WHAT IF?

 WHAT IF?


“What are you going to do if God doesn’t answer your prayer?”

My neighbor’s question left me stunned. Surely God would answer my prayer. I could see no reason at all for God to not answer my prayer.


I spent quite a while praying that night, in my backyard, looking at the moon. It looked huge and seemed so close to earth that I felt as though I could reach out and touch it or even step right onto it. I knew God created that moon. He spoke it into existence. As a new believer I had not even considered God would not answer my prayer. 

He spoke the entire world into existence. 

He can answer my prayer.

It has been over 30 years since the night my neighbor asked me that question.

Did God answer my prayer? Not the way I wanted the prayer to be answered. It was a season of grieving and growing for me.

Since then though, there have been many answered prayers.

And –

My dad’s friend did not heal.

My friends did not heal.

Some family members did not heal.

My husband’s job went south.

I desperately prayed and still my babies passed because I was unable to carry them to term.

One of those times of grief, I opened the Bible to the book of Psalms, the words “God is good” jumped off the pages.

Psalm 136:1 “…Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”

Psalm 118:1 “Praise to God for His Everlasting Mercy. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good...”

Psalm 109:21 “But you, O God the Lord, Deal with me for Your name’s sake; because Your mercy is good, deliver me.”

I believed what the Bible said, "God is good," despite what I was experiencing.

In the beginning of my faith walk, I read in the book of John about Jesus dying on the cross to pay for the price of my sins. He went to great lengths to pay the price for my sins. I believed what the Bible said and knew He loved me.

I did not give my neighbor an answer that night, over 30 years ago, but now I have a firm answer to the question my neighbor asked me so many years ago.

Philippians 2:10 “…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” NKJV

My knee bows.

My tongue confesses Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The nights I cry intense tears of grief into my pillow – I am comforted knowing despite what is making me grieve, God is good.  And He is my LORD.

The nights I hold onto my pillow filled with fear of all that is going on in this world – I may be scared, but I know God is the eternal protector of my soul. He is LORD.

Despite the pain and turmoil of what happens in this world, I believe God hears every prayer I pray. When I cannot see the answer, it doesn’t mean He is not there with me. His ways are higher than mine and it is then I hold onto the knowledge that He is LORD.

My prayer for you is – you will know – you will know He is good, He is Lord, and He hears you, He is with you.


 

Comments

Anonymous said…
Love your messages♥️
October 31, 2023 at 4:08 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I Wish I Didn't

Image
  I read the text that said you were gone. The disappointment, the deepening of missing you, increased immediately, and grief filled my being. My mind struggles when I am at work or at my sister's with the knowledge you won't be walking in the door with your friendly smile and hello. I won't hear your friendly words or your snarky comments when things go wrong.  I know, I know, I know we all get to be gathered together again as Jesus said, however, there is a hole here in the lives of those who knew you that only you filled. Right now it really trips us up. I know we will figure a way to deal - as you would say. You never made a million in dollars, but you certainly made more than millions in love. We all enjoyed you. You brought so much to your relationships even when you struggled. I am so sorry for your struggles. I know you are at peace now. That energetic smile is probably beaming standing in the presence of our heavenly Fathers love. I believe with all my heart you ar...
Read more

Let Love Shine

Image
When I picked up my phone yesterday I had the thought, I wonder what is happening on Facebook today. My next thought was, I hope nothing bad happened . The first post - something bad had happened in Vegas. I looked at the news. Are there any words to express about something, that my mind cannot grasp, had  happened? Then it got personal when I discovered a couple of my family members knew people who had lost their lives at this concert and others who were injured. I have no words. I cannot grasp who or why would do such a horrible thing. And whenever I think of what the people at the concert went through, while running away from the bullets, there is no words, only tears. I am not normally a name caller, but no matter what his mental condition was at the time, no matter what his reasons, only a little coward would do what he did. The people had no way to defend themselves. No way to counter attack. Purely an evil cowardly act of violence. And the point? There is none. ...
Read more

Praying? Really?

Image
  I made a comment couple of days ago, of how I would like to be like Peter or Paul right now. I would like to be so close and open to hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit that I can say to her, as she lays before me on the hospital bed, with machines, and skilled nurses working to keep her alive, and comfortable, "Rise and walk, in Jesus name." Or I could clearly hear God say she will, but she will rise into eternity with Me. Instead I pray desperate prayers. I know stories of miracles. I want one now.   I also want to be able to accept if what I want Him to do, is not what He is going to do. I asked myself, and God, How does my faith apply here? How? Looking at the situation, a negative statement made about prayers and miracles frustrated me, and I wanted to have an opportunity  to have a comeback. I suddenly wanted my prayers for a miracle to say, THIS IS WHY I PRAY! Science is silent when God speaks and God moves! Then I asked, how does my faith, my prayers...
Read more