How many times do you pray?

I pondered this question over the weekend as the court date I fretted over came and went with yet another continuation.  As an anxious citizen, I'm frustrated at a system that allows a man charged with felony kidnapping to walk the streets.  As a sane-minded citizen, I can feel compassion; but as a victim, forget about it.  I'm mad and I want justice and I'm wondering how long it will take?

In God's ever present mercy, He reminded of a sermon I heard years ago when I lived in Elk City.  My pastor at the time, Mark, was preaching about an older couple that was a part of his congregation early in his ministry.  The man suffered a severe heart attack, and it was only the multiple attempts at CPR that was keeping him alive.  As Mark prayed with the wife in the hospital waiting room, the doctors came out and said the husband was revived - only to come out minutes later to say that his heart had stopped again.  This process repeated itself again.  And again.  And again.  And again.  I'm not sure how many times the doctors said the husband died on the operating table, but I do know that figure is in double digits.  At one point during this trying ordeal, the wife turned to Mark and asked "How many times do we pray for him to live?"  Mark's answer:  "As long as it takes."

I do not serve a sadistic God, but a God who reveals himself to a sinful world for His glory, not ours.  I have no idea why my life is taking the turn is taking, but I cannot mistake the role God has in it.  While the earth is not bowing to my anxious desires at the moment, the Bible says that all will be revealed for His glory.  And I see God moving in my life in so many other directions (finances, my children's health, my family healing years long rifts) that I cannot deny that He is in this situation as well.  How many times do I pray?  As long as it takes.

An interesting endnote to Mark's anecdote about man who kept coding in the hospital:  the man made a complete recovery.  He went on to live for many years.  He even outlived his wife.  How many times do I pray?  As long as it takes.