Have you ever prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and heard? Yes, just that – silence. And as you pray the circumstances just seem to be getting worse.
Praying for financial increase and your bank are calling you up with charges.
Praying for spiritual revelation and you come up blank whenever you pray.
Fasting and praying and all you seem to be doing is losing weight. Yeah, it’s time to change your tactics.
Sometimes we do (I do) try to pray away (with failure) moments of teaching (discomfort; financial lack; relationship drama; family drama; uni drama; children drama and anything else that fits the bill for humanity’s stress) because I just want it over. I have a feeling at times so do you. But there are great lessons and experiences of God that can and will only be found in those moments when you’re burnt out and have nowhere else to turn.
That’s when you experience Him and He is revealed in the capacity that no other can take. Not man or woman – No body. And it’s tough. I’ll be the first to admit. It’s tough relinquishing your trust when all ‘hell’ breaks loose and all you want is some kind of control. When you feel helpless and on the brink of just giving up. But be encouraged.
It gets easier. it gets easier when you and I remember our place. I was on a flight the other day and when we broke through the clouds I was that four-year-old child looking out of the window in amazement. I was in Awe of our God. That same God who made the clouds, the sun and the amazing sunsets we’ve been seeing is the Lover of our souls. Whoa. When you look at it like that you’d be foolish not to surrender.
God dropped something on my spirit the other day and it was this:
‘You see better when you’re higher up.‘
God sees way more and way further than any of us can see. He has the Manufacturer’s view. Only He can truly meet you at the point of your needs and fill the void that we often times don’t realise we have, not consciously anyway. Amidst all the fighting and frustration we often forfeit experiencing God for who He is in all His Splendour. We forfeit peace.
So guys, let’s pray – But let’s turn our prayers around. Rather than ask God to take ‘it’ (whatever our ‘it’ is away); ask God what the lesson is:
“Lord, what am I meant to be learning. This is uncomfortable and I pretty much hate it. Don’t wanna be in these circumstances and I want everything to be perfect- But- that’s not Your will for me right now because if it was You would have made the circumstances so. You want me to rely on You. To trust You. To believe You. To lean on You. And if I’m honest. I know as well as You do that that’s not gonna happen when life is all ‘rosy’ so Lord please do what only You do in this season and envelope me in Your Love. Wrap me in Your arms and carry me through this day. I need You. With Thanksgiving and expectations, I pray.
Be honest and open with God. Tell Him how You feel and ask Him for a greater desire for Him; for His Will and for His Purpose.
These trials are taking you deeper.
Don’t fight the teacher.
Surrender- it’s the Only way to win.
Amen! Really enjoyed reading. I could relate and it made me think about my own life. I’ve learnt that God teaches us through our circumstances, so that we can become better and stronger in faith and patience through his Grace. God bless.
This is one of my favourite posts. My sis has packed so much wisdom into this one. It’s easy to forget that sometimes there’s purpose in pain.