A few weeks ago, I met up with a friend. We transparently shared our hearts with each other throughout the afternoon. We shared some joys, doubts and all the things as we were not only friends, but professional colleagues.
As it became time to drop me off, this beautiful woman pulled into a parking spot so she could pray for some of the concerns that she’d heard throughout the day. I was so moved, because I’m typically the one offering to pray. As I laughed through tears at her beautiful prayer, and thanked her, I told her that I’m usually the one to pray. She said with a smile ‘I know’.
I continued to hug her and decided to return the kindness and prayed for her too and some of the concerns that I’d heard.
A few days later, she reached out to me.
Without a shadow of a doubt, God had heard our prayers and our hearts and responded with just what was needed.
Fast forward a few weeks later. As my daughter was saying her bed time prayers, she asked God that she’d have a quiet, no activity day the next day. It had been a very full week of fun activities, and she just wanted to some rest.
I chuckled at her honest prayer and I would have been ok with a rest day too.
However, the next morning my friend called and asked if we wanted to go to a place that she’d been asking to go for almost a year. It was far and I wasn’t comfortable making the drive, but when he offered, I knew it wasn’t something we should pass on.
Of course, I gave her the option. Our friend is going to this place, do you want to go?
Without hesitation, the answer was a resounding yes.
I can tell you that we all had a blast and was able to cross this place off our list.
I often times have to pause and wonder about how God chooses to answer our prayers.
Sometimes, He answers in ways that are less than ideal for us, but because we trust Him, we know that it’s for our good – even when it doesn’t feel like it in the short term.
And sometimes, He shows up and answers in such a way that exceeds our expectations and blows our minds.
I’m praying that no matter how He chooses to answer my requests, that I will continue to trust Him because He sees the beginning from the end and has proven time and again that He can be trusted.
Dear Heavenly Father, I’m so grateful for your matchless love for us. I’m grateful for whether you choose to give us the desires of our hearts or not, simply because you can see the bigger picture where we only see one small piece at a time. You have continued to show us that we can trust you because you care for us.