Jacob 5

(February 15, 2015)

                One question that I have often had as I read this chapter (and others with similar points being made) is whether we truly have the capacity to persuade God.  The servants begged the Lord to spare the tree a while longer, and He consented.  I have always struggled to understand that because a perfect plan, by definition, should not be amenable to the petitions of a silly and unrighteous creature such as myself.

                The resolution that I came to (and I still don’t know that I am right on this) is that though the Plan is perfect, we need to approach our prayer as though we maintain the power of persuasion.  God knew what He would do, but the servants needed to feel as though praying helped bring about the result that they desired – not so much for the participation but so they knew that they were loved and heard.

                Judges, when dealing with pro se litigants, will often let them talk for a long time about whatever they want.  The reason is that it is important for them to feel as though they are being heard.  So too with each of us – even though the Plan is perfect, we need to understand and believe that we are being heard.  If we don’t, we will not become the people we need to become.  So while our prayers are already factored into the perfect Plan, acting in accordance with this truth (and, as President Packer said some things that are true are not helpful) is not as useful as acting as though are prayers truly are a petition to the Lord with the capacity to change the Plan.