I have a friend who has been facing some very challenging times with her family. As we have prayed and cried together we were naturally asking “Why?” Eventually we discovered that during our prayers we were, in essence, telling God how He could solve this situation for us. However, the situation seemed so hopeless that we finally prayed, “Lord, please work this situation out in a way that we can’t comprehend or imagine.” And guess what? He did!
God worked in this situation so amazingly that I am still shaking my head. It was certainly something we would never have thought to tell Him to do! Isn’t it funny that we would be so arrogant as to suggest how God should run things? It makes me think of when I was a teenager and had all the answers. My parents were so uninformed!
I wonder how many times we have prayed and then grumbled because God didn’t answer in the way we requested. We may not have even recognized that He did answer because we forgot that we asked.
I know many people who keep a prayer journal. I tend to write my prayers because it keeps me focused. Periodically I will read back through the journal and realize how God worked out the details. Having these tangible reminders and seeing His track record helps me to deal with “the next thing.”
I am just so thankful that God is the one who is Sovereign (in control) and, believe it or not, did not leave it up to you or me! You see, we are so limited. All we know is here and now but God knows what was, what is and what is to come (Rev. 4:8). I heard a story once about our lives being like quilts. All we can see is one tiny little square but God sees the whole thing and how it all fits together.
In closing, I am going to share a Psalm that is described as a “Psalm for giving thanks.” I believe that is an appropriate response to God for providing in ways that we can’t imagine!
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100 ESV)
Have a great day!