Prayers

          I've realized something recently.

          Okay, not so much realized.

          I have been taught something recently. I've been taught something over and over and over again.

          Prayer works.

          No. I mean it. Prayer really works.

          

Yesterday, one of my dearest friends had her sweet sixteen party in my backyard. We had been planning this soireè for a year. All through last week and the beginning of this week we kept a close eye on the weather forecasts.  Monday I looked and it said that there was an 80% chance of rain and thunder showers. We had a momentary freak out. The whole idea of the party was to be outside. We had planned a relay race, cookout, campfire, and outdoor movie. We could do none of these things if it rained.

After our momentary freak out we decided to pray (continue praying, really) that the weather would hold out. We watched all week as the chance of rain went from 80% to 50% until finally on the day of the party, there was a 30% chance of scattered thunder showers. We continued pray as we decked the patio out with christmas lights, lanterns, table cloths, and such. And then at about 1:30, one and a half hours until the party was supposed to start, the wind kicked up and clouds gathered.

We hurriedly gathered all the decorations back inside and then decided to get ready for the party. At 2:30 the rain stopped. We stepped outside and saw that it had only been a slight shower. We began putting out the decorations again, and promptly *cough* at 3:00 guests began to arrive.

Then my friend and I saw, physically saw a prayer be answered. The sun came out, the damp ground dried, and the party went off without a hitch.

Things like this- though not always as obvious- have happened over and over again this year.

Six months ago my life was a cyclone of confusion and fear of the future. I was scared about what was to come. As I've said before, many other things in my life started going haywire - my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, the disappointment about the part I got in the play, issues with friends, injuries, issues with trusted adults. The list goes on.

          But as I was sucked into this cyclone, I noticed something. The more I cried out to God, the closer He seemed, and the more I poured out my heart to Him, the more I saw His hand at work.

         By God's grace, my grandmother is now cancer free. By His mercy I came to terms- more than that- grew to love the part I got in the play. In His goodness the issues with my friends are resolved and physical injuries healed. In His love, emotional wounds have started to heal, and forgiveness is beginning to take place.

         God doesn't always answer prayers how we want Him to. He did (thank you, Lord) in the case of my grandmother. But He didn't in the case of my knee. I stayed in pain throughout the duration of the play. He answered my prayers, instead, by being present in the trial and by teaching me in His love.

God isn’t a wish factory. He’s not a faucet that we can go to and turn on whenever we want blessings, but He is a loving Father. He listens to the broken hearted as they cry out to him in the middle of the night with tears streaming from their eyes. He listens to the stressed who don’t know how they will get all their work done. He listens to the praise flowing from the lips of the grateful. He answers each prayer in His timing and in His way. Whether it is through healing or lessons, He answers every prayer.

I have seen prayers answered this year that I shouted at the heavens last year. I shouted for comfort, to know the rejuvenating presence of God. I felt alone. But he used that trial to bring me closer to Him, to my parents, and my friends. He answered it a year later than I wanted, but He answered.

I have a few challenges for you.

1) If you have seen a prayer answered, praise God. Praise Him ceaselessly.

2) If you are in the midst of a trial, praise God. But also, if you are in a trail, cry out to Him, even if He feels a universe away. He is there and He is listening.

3) Have patience for a prayer to be answered. The people of Israel prayed for the Messiah for thousands of years, before the Lord saw fit to send His son. Also, know that God may see fit to answer your prayer in a different way than you wanted.

God’s timing is good. His love overflows. He wants our prayers and will always answer them in His good and perfect way.

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Jesus song of the day: The More I Seek You - Kari Jobe

Secular song of the day: Friends- Michael W. Smith