It's not every day that Hollywood makes a deeply truthful theological observation, so I thought I'd better not let this one disappear into movie history unnoticed.
The movie was Evan Almighty - the 2007 sequel to Jim Carrey's film, Bruce Almighty. In Evan, God (played by Morgan Freeman) contacts Congressman Evan Baxter (played by Steve Carell) and tells him to build an ark in preparation for a great flood.
As might be expected, Evan's wife (Lauren Graham) has a hard time wrapping her head around this major change in her husband.
It's at this point the following conversation takes place:
Just to make sure you didn't miss it, here's the main point:
Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If they prayed for courage does God give them courage or does he give them opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for their family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?
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Truth is...Sometimes we are the answer to our own prayer.
Bonus truth...Now you know why I never ask God to give me patience. (wink)
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