Sometimes when I ask what I can pray for, I hear, “Things have been good for a while. Just for them to stay that way.”

I nod, but I don’t ever pray that for them.

The problem of pleasure is a much more imprisoning epidemic than the problem of pain. With pain there’s at least relief or compassion or community; with pleasure there is addiction, endless emptiness, a slavery to false emotion, no limit to satisfaction until you’re dead or dying or have used up everyone around you.

I believe our need for God is an objective reality. Pain might take us there or embitter us, but pleasure always blinds us until it’s too late.

So no, I won’t keep praying for your comfort and safety and temporary happiness. I don’t mean that with malice. But by the grace of God you’ll be afflicted with some horrible wake-up call and that will be a kindness. That will be God’s mercy on your smug, disingenuous, bubble-wrapped life.

I pray God will wreck you afresh. Wreck me for You, Lord.