Are you presumptuous? The answer is that we all are, in some fashion, and especially so with God. Presumptuous in my world of definitions is: typically overt, expectation not based in hope but based in a more demanding sense. We expect, underlined, that God will do what we are wanting. There is no, or little, humility in the request.
Sometimes, in order to get whatever it is we want, we take a ‘bargaining’ posture. “I’ll do (fill in the blank) for you God if you’ll do (fill in the blank) for me.” As if doing what’s ultimately in our best interest would entice the God of all the universe to stop and do whatever it is we want in the time and method we want. And…. how often would/do we fulfill our part of the bargain? To me, bargaining is the highest form of presumptuousness.
Admittedly, presumptuousness is not always that blatant. However, our level of expectation can be a problem if for no other reason than we prostitute hope. I know that sounds severe and harsh but how would you define what happens to hope in this situation?
In a very real way presumptuousness is a cancer. It has the potential to eat away all the strength we have because we have, “… you don’t receive because you ask amiss…”. It can also affect everything else in our lives to the point that we are near death. What we need do is to take a hard analysis of what we are when we expect God to respond to our wants in a particular way and in a particular time.
It’s been said that God is never late – and He isn’t. It may at the last moment, but if so then it’s for our best. And He always answers prayer – perhaps not how, when we want or the answer we want but He is constantly looking out for our best. It’s our choice to trust Him.
