Our conceptions of things shape our expectations from those things. Suppose we conceive of prayer as a means to get God to remove obstacles from the road of our life. If we pray with that expectation, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Why? Is it because God can’t or won’t remove those obstacles? He certainly can; and he sometimes will. But even if he miraculously removes one obstacle, what will happen when another obstacle comes up? And obstacles will come inevitably, given that the world, by its very nature, is a tough place (Bhagavad-gita 08.15).

If God won’t intervene to protect us from the world’s nature, then is there any point in praying to him? Yes, certainly. To understand the point of praying, we need to see it in the light of our relationship with him. Consider how responsible parents help their children. They certainly try to make their children’s life easier, thereby expressing their love. Simultaneously, they express their love in another way: by preparing their children for the reality that life is tough, and by training their children to develop the necessary strength, ability and virtue to deal with life’s toughness — to grow up and learn to deal with problems through such growth. 

As the supremely benevolent parent, Krishna wants us all to grow up, unleashing the many abilities, interests and virtues latent within us. When we pray to him amid problems, he often reciprocates by illuminating us from within to discover and develop the resources necessary for dealing with those problems. In our readiness to strive for such growth and in our savoring such growth, we can perceive Krishna’s reciprocation to our prayers. Pertinently, he assures that his grace empowers us to rise above life’s various obstacles (18.58). 

One-sentence summary:

Pray not that God prepares the road for you; pray that he prepares you for the road.

Think it over:

  • When will prayer set us up for disappointment?
  • What are the two ways in which a responsible parent expresses love?
  • How can we see Krishna’s reciprocation to our prayers? 

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18.58: If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.

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