A bit dated, but very wise words from Conan O’Brien. It always impresses me to see someone who can recognize their blessings, even when the world would rather see them succumb to self pity and anger.
(H/T Steve Robinson)
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The Book of Tobit contains one of most beautiful prayers in the Bible. When Tobiah took Sarah as his wife, he did something that her previous seven husbands presumably did not. He began by inviting his wife to join with him in prayer.
When the girl’s parents left the bedroom and closed the door behind them, Tobiah arose from the bed and said to his wife, “My love, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance.” She got up and they started to pray and beg that deliverance might be theirs. He began with these words:
“Blessed are you, O God of our fathers; praised be your name forever and ever. You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the human race descended. You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a partner like himself.’ Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”
They said together, “Amen, amen,” and went to bed for the night.
In whatever vocation God has called each of us, we do well when we humbly ask for his help and mercy, confident that each day he will strengthen the gifts that have already been given.
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“At that very time, the prayer of these two supplicants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God. So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit’s eyes, so that he might again see God’s sunlight; and to marry Raguel’s daughter Sarah to Tobit’s son Tobiah, and then drive the wicked demon Asmodeus from her.” (Tobit 3: 16-17)
The book of Tobit begins with the story of two people who find themselves in such a state of despair that they pray for God to take their life. Tobit and Sarah were two just people who faced extreme situations. The first is blinded despite his performing good works, and the second marries seven men in turn, each of whom dies before their wedding night. Both are falsely accused and both, in their great sorrow, pray to God to let them die.
Most of us have ups and downs in our lives that are manageable. There are also times, however, when life can take a series of turns that lead to an overwhelming sense of despair. Reaching the point where there is no hope is a very dark place to be, but even when it seems that darkness has taken up permanent residence in our lives, God is there waiting. The story of Tobit and Sarah reminds us that God hears our cries of anguish and can heal us even the worst of situations. The message for us as Christians is that hope is never beyond our reach, that nothing is impossible with God.
Rather than granting their wish for death, God sends the angel Raphael to heal Tobit and to lead Sarah to Tobiah, who will become her husband. Again and again God proves his love not only by healing our brokenness, but by giving us more than what we have asked of Him. Sometimes the extreme situations of life can provide the opening for God to give us the things we didn’t even know we needed.
Whether it be in joy or despair, let us continue to cry out to God with an open spirit to receive the things he wishes to provide.
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