Broken-Record Blessing

Do any of you remember the LP vinyl records of old? I still have a turntable along with some of my 33 1/3 and 45 rpm albums that I just can’t bear to part with. It is relaxing to listen to these old favorites and reflect on my younger years.

But do you also remember how easily they skipped? In fact, one could count on them skipping if the player was bumped or even if dancing or stomping created too much vibration. And, inevitably, after a certain period of time (never long enough), the records became scratched and would get stuck on playing the same line repeatedly.

And, although compact discs are somewhat hardier, the same think happens to them today.

Those broken records were irritating to say the least! It didn’t take long before they ended up in the trash can.

At times my daughter becomes one of those broken records, repeating the same question or phrase repeatedly, even after we give her the answer multiple times. “Huh?” “Lori!” and “Home” are her favorites. I’m not sure if she repeats them because she knows it aggravates us, because there is security in getting the same answer more than once, or just for attention. My guess is it’s a combination of all three.

This broken-record syndrome is also common with 2 and 3 year olds. They seem to ask “Why?” endlessly. And parents of children with autism will report their child repeating lines of movies or songs incessantly.

If I analyze my life (and am truthful), I realize that I too exhibit characteristics of a broken record. I repeatedly make the same requests, demand the same actions, and complain about the same issues. And of course make the same mistakes … but that is for another post.

I’m not much better in my prayer life. I find myself beseeching God to take away the same hurts; asking Him for the same blessings; and, of course, begging His forgiveness for the same transgressions.

I wonder at how He can be so patient with me—how He can bear to hear the daily recycled grievances and request—prayers that are often stagnant recitations. To my chagrin, I find my petitions lasting the same amount of time, in the same order (P.R.A.Y.), and including the same list of ingredients. My patience would run thin after the first three times!

Thankfully, the Lord is endlessly patient, delighting in us when we pray (Job 33:26) and rewarding our repetitions and persistence.

Jesus Himself relates the parable of the persistent widow where we are told to “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). He assures us that the Father hears our repeated prayers: “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:7–8).

Elsewhere in the Gospels, we are further encouraged to keep asking, searching, and knocking (Matthew 7:7–8; Luke 11:6–9).

It is certainly wise to strive to grow in our prayer life; to understand how the Lord wants us to pray.

But the important thing is that we do pray. And do so often. Earnestly. And with hope.

Our Father wants to give us the delights of our hearts. He wants to take away our pain and bless us abundantly. And, He desires to commune with us as a Father to His children.

It is okay if our prayers take on the form of being repetitious (after all we are given the Lord’s Prayer as a template to follow [Matthew 6:9–13]), enumerated, or incoherent. It is even okay if our prayer is merely a one word gasp for help!

It is okay because God already knows our deepest desires. But He longs to hear it from us. To hear our voice. The God and Father longs to be in fellowship with us; to converse with us regularly and persistently.

Our petitions aren’t broken, useless records to Him. They don’t irritate His ears and cause Him to plead temporary deafness.

Our prayer life, whatever form it takes, is the impetus to a lifelong dialogue with the Lover of our hearts! It is the ultimate gift from our Ultimate Father!

“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

Do you ever feel like a broken record when you come before the Lord? How has your prayer life evolved during your Christian walk?