# Prayer Answered by Crosses explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## What happens

The speaker reflects on how his prayer for growth in faith and grace was answered not by immediate relief, but by trials and inner struggles that revealed hidden sins and shattered earthly joys, teaching him to seek his all in God.

## Themes in this chapter

### Prayer and Dependence on God

The speaker's prayer for growth is answered, but in a way that teaches deeper dependence on God rather than immediate comfort.

### Suffering and Affliction

The speaker experiences inward trials and outward crosses as the means by which God answers his prayer for grace and faith.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

The speaker who prayed for growth and recounts the surprising answer of crosses and trials.

### The Lord

The one who taught the speaker to pray and answers prayer through inward trials and afflictions.

### Satan

The angry powers of hell that assault the soul in every part.

## Key lines

> I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow In faith and love and every grace, Might more of his salvation know, And seek more earnestly his face.

I prayed to the Lord to increase my faith, love, and all virtues, to know more of his salvation, and to seek him more earnestly.

_The opening stanza sets the prayer request._

> But it has been in such a way As almost drove me to despair.

But the answer came in a manner that nearly drove me to despair.

_The speaker acknowledges the surprising and distressing nature of the answer._

> Cross’d all the fair designs I schemed, Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

He thwarted all my well-laid plans, destroyed my comforts, and humbled me.

_The speaker describes how God disrupted his earthly plans and joys._

> “ ’Tis in this way,” the Lord replied, “I answer pray’r for grace and faith.

The Lord replied that this is how he answers prayers for grace and faith.

_The divine response explains the purpose of the trials._

> These inward trials I employ, From self and pride to set thee free; And break thy schemes of earthly joy. That thou may’st seek thy all in me.

I use these inner trials to free you from self and pride, and to shatter your earthly joys so that you may seek everything in me.

_The Lord clarifies the purpose of the afflictions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/36-prayer-answered-by-crosses
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters