PROMISE #9 ~ ANSWERED PRAYER (in His name)

They walk into our kitchen.

Hand in hand, eyes smiling.

I welcome him with a hug… my eyes darting to her face.

I’d like you to meet my wife

Stunned.

I search her eyes… his… and warm my arms with her embrace.  A strange joy overwhelms.  

When?

How long?

My mind races with the questions that dart to my tongue.  We gather around the table.  My warrior, his friend… a brother-in-arms, this new wife, and I.  A familiarity fills the room…

Why do I feel like I know her already?

My minds races back… a question from my oldest son…

Why aren’t our prayers working?

Why are they all dying?

His child-blue eyes questioned this mama.

We keep praying and they just die anyway…

My thoughts… back to my dear friend… back to our visitor’s wife.  Another mother of six.

Both gone.  We had prayed and prayed.

And it didn’t work.

I look across the worn wood of our kitchen table… the place so many memories are born.  I remember the sorrow, the struggles, the salt of many tears.

I look at these two smiling faces.  Faces of love.

They begin with the story.  The story of answered prayer.  The story of a mighty God moving miracles in rapid motion.  The story itself, this tale of our own Job… this, the story novels are made of… but real.  The novel would hardly hold weight… the reality, lifted high by His hands.

They are going to tell you that it’s all too fast

This pair nodding agreement.

But, don’t listen.  

They don’t know the whole story.  

They don’t know how He is working.  

They don’t know how big He is.

I, one of the guilty… have kept God locked in a box.  This box of restraints… of improbables… of impossibilities.  I look across and see the edges of the safe little box… explode.

Yes, He can.  Yes, He does.  Yes, He will.

He answers every prayer.  Every time.

In HIS time.  In HIS way.  In HIS will.

My mind again wanders… another pair of smiling eyes.  A new love.  An old hurt soothed with the balm of answered prayers.  The dear husband of my forever friend… with a new face leaned on his shoulder.  This comfort.  This content.  This chorus of answered prayers all around.

I smile.  His healing surpasses my understanding.  His love transcends all boxed prayers.  His will greater than our demands.  His timing… perfect.

What do we do when our prayers aren’t working?

Keep praying

Remembering that His is the timing that is perfect… the wide view of our small screens… the perfection in the puzzle.

Put the pen in His hand and allow Him to write the story…

His penmanship is breathtaking.

 

PROMISE #9 ~ God promises us answered prayers (in His name).

 

John 14:13-14

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.