Sep 8, 2009
Wasting a Perfectly Good Trial: Waiting for God
I have a prayer request. It’s kind of a big deal. I can’t get into the details until things get settled, but rest assured, it’s a large burden that only makes other burdens feel heavier.
And so I’m praying about it. I’m asking others to pray about it. What am I asking God to do about it? “Make it go away.”
I want God to deliver us, to settle the situation, and to help us move on with our lives. We’ve worried about this long enough.
A few months ago we received some encouraging words from fellow Christians about this situation: God had it under control. Things are going to work out. God is with us.
It’s kind of been quiet since then.
And really, I shouldn’t complain. I mean, Noah spent a good year locked up in the ark without so much as a peep from God. I’m sure he kept thinking this flood can’t go on yet another day? Can it?
Oh, it can.
And so I was driving home last night and praying about this… this… thing. I’m trying to let go. I’m trying to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. However, when you have something as big as this staring you in the face, you can’t help but notice it. It’s in the way.
God spoke to me last night. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear.
“Do you want me or do you just want me to make this go away?”
To be perfectly honest, I felt like saying, “Make this go away, and then we can talk.”
Agh.
Today I am very humbled by my attitude. I wouldn’t want to waste a perfectly good trial by not drawing near to God in the midst of it.
Thank you again for sharing your (somewhat obscure but) always honest and edifying journey with us.
I understand. Chris and I have been praying for the same thing in our situation–fix this, God (and fix it according to our fix it, please). Lately, we’ve been praying for God’s joy, peace, and contentment as well as the ability to trust him. It’s a harder prayer, but I think we’re too worn out to keep asking him to fix it. And I think that’s what he wants.