At the end of last year, our five-year-old daughter asked after her evening prayer, "Daddy, what does amen actually mean?" At this moment, learned answers do not provide a solution, but it is important to simply say what the content is of that beautiful word that always returns at the end of our prayers.

Thoughtless⤒🔗

Anyone who thinks about the biblical content of the word "amen" must come to the conclusion that we should not say this word thoughtlessly. The reality is that the word “amen” is regularly spoken by us thoughtlessly.

A statement that we used to hear at school was: "Amen is not a starting signal." In practice, however, it sometimes functions as a starting signal, The word “amen” can function more as a signal that the prayer is over. After the “amen” we can get moving again, get up from the table or put on our coats. And how often does it happen that we drop out of a congregational prayer before the pastor has said "amen"? It is fair to say that this could also be due to the prayer leader.. But it should be a reason for both the leader and those who pray with him to reflect on the word "amen" and on the content of the prayer spoken aloud. But the reason for the thoughtless utterance or silent prayer of the word “amen” is not only to be sought among the pastors. That can also be a simple excuse.

Because how often does it happen to us personally that we start praying, but our thoughts quickly go elsewhere?

And have you ever fallen asleep before you have said “amen” during your evening prayer? Or does that not happen to you?

Catechism←⤒🔗

The question mentioned at the beginning of this article was put to me a few weeks before I was to preach a sermon on Lord's Day 52 of the Catechism. Thinking about and formulating an answer to the spontaneous question was a good starting point for the discussion of answer 129 of the Heidelberg Catechism. After all, the meaning of this word is explained very clearly there: "Amen" means: It will be true and certain. For my prayer is much more surely heard from God than I feel in my heart that I desire it of him. In other words, with the word "amen" we say that the Lord God knows much better than we do what we need. And it is more certain that he hears than that we feel that we need it.

The conclusion may be that the Catechism has a very high conception of the word with which we conclude our prayers.

With the word "amen" we say at the end of our prayer; "Lord God, we are sure that you have listened." Nice way to put it, actually, when a child asks for the meaning of the word "amen." What a high responsibility parents also have to teach children to say "amen." A task in which we usually feel like bumblers. A task that in the deepest sense only the Holy Spirit can fulfill, but also through us humans. For he who truly learns to say "amen" learns trust, learns to believe.

Trust←⤒🔗

The basic meaning of the word is to believe or trust. In the book of Revelation the Lord Jesus himself is called Amen. This is what the Amen, who is the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (Revelation 3:14).

It emphasizes the certainty of salvation in Christ. The Savior used the word himself. Amen, Amen, I say to you. It expresses the certainty of the future to come.

We use that same word at the end of our prayer. And that emphasizes the certainty of the fact that all that is prayed is in God's hand. Then we feel that we cannot just pronounce this word without thinking. The way we pronounce the last word also says something about the way we prayed. Of course, it does not fit behind a prayer that is more of a leap of faith than a prayer.

And let us be honest, that there are such prayers from time to time. Then the words are spoken, but we think: "Oh what good is all this? I might as well not pray." Behind such a prayer, the word "amen" does not really fit. After all, this final word is a word of faith and trust. Can we really say "amen" after our prayers? Some of our prayers begin in doubt and uncertainty. We may doubt God's care for us or for those we love. We can doubt God's forgiveness. How many feelings can go through us while praying. It is therefore good to remember that at the end of that prayer you are going to say "amen." This can be a prayer with long silences and deep sighs. But how much peace it gives when we can say "amen" at the end of that prayer. Then there will be prayers in which we say it very softly, but then there will also be prayers in which the last word sounds like a bell—not because we are so sure of our cause, but because we are sure of God's cause: his Name, his Kingdom, his will, his care, and his forgiveness. And you can know for sure that the faithful God has listened to you. From this point of view, ending our prayer with the word "amen" should never be thoughtless. It can be quite difficult to say. Can we say it? But there is also something beautiful about it, because then we can indeed leave everything in the hand of the Lord with peace of mind. Behind the last word of the prayer there is not a question mark, but an exclamation mark!