Prayer

I had 15 minutes to kill before my shift. With nowhere to go and not enough time to really go anywhere, I parked in front of an open field and prayed.

I have to confess that I’m not a great prayer-er. I’m trying. I’m better than I used to be. But I find it hard to voice words to the unseen God I worship. I “think” my prayers to Him a whole lot, but words often fail me.

It’s a lack of faith on my part. I realize that. I don’t want to be that way, and I’m committed to changing.

I’m praying that I become a better prayer-er.

God is answering.

He has blessed me with some of the most difficult and faith-challenging situations I’ve ever had to face.

One of the things I pray for regularly is that I hear God more clearly in my life.

As I stared at the open field and wondered at the magnitude of his silence, my eyes fell on II Corinthians 1:8-10.

“For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”

God, silent? No way. His word speaks loudly and clearly.

Most of the time I just have to listen.

Do you feel utterly burdened by a situation in your life? Do you feel like there is no way to resolve it, no way to get out from under it? In fact, do you feel like it’s your sentence of death?

Those are harsh words.

But I’ve felt them.

And I know you have too.

Why does God, who loves me enough to die for me, allow excruciatingly difficult circumstances to badger my life?

Why doesn’t God who raises the dead intervene right away?

The answer is right there for me to hear.

It is to make me rely not on myself but on Him.

It is to make me dependent on the only one who can.

Time is the test of faith in which He accomplishes the work.

Hope is the evidence of faith that I am resting in the certainty that He will.

He will deliver me again.

As I stared at the open field my eye caught the movement of the trees and the blades of grass as the wind blew on them. At times, the movement was subtle, while at other times, it seemed more obvious.

That’s the way with God. He’s always there. Always working. Always moving.

Even when I don’t see Him clearly.

And all the while I am becoming a better prayer-er.

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