There’s an old truth, ‘prayer changes things’, which some people question. But I can say, with certainty, that prayer does affect how we believe, how we live and can have an impact on others! I know over the past months people have prayed for me. God has placed more than once, the right person at the right moment for me in some way, to keep me moving forward.
WHEN PRAYERS AREN'T ANSWERED
But it seems there are prayers that just aren’t answered. And while that seems unexplainable, ‘unanswered prayers’ sometimes are the answer. God knows what is going on and the beginning from the end. In the middle of all the uncertainty, God also keeps track of our tears and stores them in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8) He knows how many tears you or I have ever shed!
Life in general changes nearly every day, in some way. Sometimes the change is so subtle you miss it. But it’s comforting to know that even in these small ways, God is still in control.
Admittedly I am still searching for clarity for my next steps. It’s important to ‘be still and know that HE is still God’ and He knows all the right strategies to get me where I need to be. It’s hard to be patient, even while recognizing His power and eternal qualities.
While I wait, it’s important to also to remember to be obedient, even in the small things. Interestingly, this morning, I was asking God, “What are you preparing me for?” I’ve been doing a good bit of research for another project which I still don’t have a clue how or where it will be used. Yet I feel compelled to keep working on it, which prompted my question in prayer.
God has plans which I don’t know, but I do know obedience is absolutely mandatory! While my ‘harvest’ isn’t yet seen, I must believe that God will reward my obedience, even though it seems such a small thing. God isn’t only interested in the ‘big stuff’. He watches and cares about the ‘little stuff’ too!
He even tells us that he cares about the small sparrow, (Matthew 10:29) and we are much more valuable than a little bird. If God can know when a tiny bird falls and how many tears we've shed, then He also can know how many times we have or have not been obedient!
Every act of kindness, moment of restraint, moment of follow through, or whispered prayer, matters to Him. He sees us! He knows what we’re going through. When we can be obedient, even on those days we feel hidden from sight, God knows it!
He also knows those moments when we share our faith with others. As the ‘end draws nearer’, it’s urgent that we pray and share our faith. If we hold back and allow those who take risks with their eternity, are we held responsible? Again, God knows everything we do, those we interact with, and every word spoken.
It all matters to him and there is a reason for everything. Nothing is random with God. As we navigate our ‘unknowns’ we can know for certain God is getting us ‘ready for something’ or maybe protecting us from something we thought we wanted but wasn’t right for us. His reasoning can be counted on as being the very best for us, even if we can’t see immediate answers or any immediate harvest.
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