I haven’t written a blog post in a while because I haven’t had much to say…
But over the last few weeks I’ve noticed something and I feel it should be addressed.
Prayer.
Specifically in how we pray/ask for prayer.
Too often I’ve noticed that people (myself included) almost seem to demand or plead that God make something happen. Whether it’s in regards to a job, money, relationships, health, anything. It’s like we’re treating the Almighty as a “sugar daddy” rather then the one who created the Heavens and the Earth. The one who knew everything that was going to happen in our lives before we were even knit in our mother’s womb.
We live in a very individualistic society. We pride ourselves on independence. So when tough times hit, we don’t know how to rely on others. Instead we get into this panic mode and feel that because of the hardship, we deserve something good. Because of our struggles, we are entitled to something. And when we do manage to reach out to others, still be plead and beg.
Don’t get me wrong, we are called to reach out to each other for comfort and support. And we are called to support and comfort others. But we need to make a change in how we do so. Instead of asking that something happen or pleading that God make it so… we need to ask that whatever happens, God’s will be done. And that’s not easy. I know. I have been trying to change how I pray for a while now and I still sometimes catch myself making demands.
However, I am making progress.
Whenever people ask me to pray for a relationship I pray that whatever the outcome (they stay together or they break up), that there would be peace. God’s will be done.
Whenever people ask me to pray for finances I pray that whatever the outcome (it comes in or it doesn’t), that there would be peace. God’s will be done.
Now some people may read this and think,
“But she already has her funds & is content with being single & already may (potentially) have a job when she returns. Etc, etc, etc.”
And while all this may be true. It did not start out that way and I had to struggle, cry, and beat myself up before I came to understanding that. In the beginning, no funds were coming in and I was desperate and panicking. But at one point God showed me that I need to give up my worry and trust him. And sure enough, the funds started coming in. Then at training camp God decided to show me that none of that mattered when it came to what he had for me. I had prayed these prayers,
“I don’t want to switch routes, but if it’s your will for me, then make it clear.”
“I don’t want to be on an all girls team, but it’s that’s what’s going to happen, then so be it.”
“I don’t want anything to do with money, but if you want me as treasurer, then okay!”
Sure enough, I was switched routes, placed on an all girls team, and made team treasurer. And throughout it all, I was at peace with each and every decision because I knew it was God’s plan.
In all situations we need to accept that what we want may not be what God wants for us right now. God’s timing is not our timing. And what he has planned may not exactly fall under what we have planned. But in all things we need to trust that he knows better than we do.
HIS will be done. Not ours.
“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11-13
