Fragile: Handle with Prayer

I received an email from a friend.
It was a two-fold prayer request.
Someone she had asked a few of us to pray for, had died and gone home to the Lord.
Someone else…a “forever” friend…got an unexpected, unwelcome diagnosis.

My friend is in shock.
Using her words…my friend went in for a routine blood test and “bam”… her life is turned upside down.

I have prayed.
I will pray.

I know that our prayers are heard, by a loving, compassionate God.
But sometimes, even knowing His promises, we feel helpless.

I love Jan Karon’s Mitford series of books.
I remember the main character always talked about the prayer that never fails.
I used to get so frustrated as I read those words.
What is the prayer that never fails?

Finally, in one of her books, it was explained.
The prayer that never fails is…Your will be done.

I thought about the simplicity of that…thinking she must mean something more complex.
But she didn’t.
Prayer isn’t complex.
It is a conversation…between a loving Father and His children.

God knows best.
Even when we think we know best…we don’t.
We don’t even come close.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Some things?
Most things?
ALL things.

Even the diagnosis that turns the life upside down?
Even the unexpected death of a loved one…much too early?
Even the seemingly unanswered prayer of a loved one who has not come to Christ?

ALL things…whether we understand them or not.

God knows the intricacies of the situation that we couldn’t possibly know.

Do you ever watch a child after they have drawn a masterpiece?
They proudly show you their picture and ask you to tell them what it is.
You have no idea…you think you see a house and a dog…

The young artist can get a bit frustrated at your lack of insight.
But they are the artist.
The picture is their design.
Only they know what they intended when they drew it.

How much more…God?

God in His omniscience is the Artist with the insight.
The Creator who perfectly plans all things…all the time.

We, with our two dimensional perspective, cannot even begin to comprehend the vastness of what He does.
I’m actually glad about that.

But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. (Exodus 23:29, 30)

God knew His people would have enemies.
He is powerful enough to drive them out in an instant.
But we would not know what to do….if He did that.
There is such grace in removing things little by little.

That seems backwards by our human standards.
But in His sovereignty, God knows what we can handle.
He is the Creator artist…the only One with the True perspective.
We have no choice but to trust Him.

Peter confessed Christ twice.
Once in Caesarea Philippi where he confidently answered Jesus’ Who do you say that I am? question with the answer, You are the Christ. (Mark 8:29)

But the confession that is more tender to me is the one found in the Gospel of John.
Jesus is talking about His flesh is real food and His blood is real drink and that truth is offending many disciples.
Many walk away from Him.

Jesus turns to the Twelve and asks them, You don’t want to leave, too, do you?
Peter answers Him, Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God. (John 6:67, 68)

I have heard that confession explained as loyal despair.
I can relate to the raw honesty of that.

As believers, we have nowhere else to go.
We have Jesus’ words…they are words of eternal life.
We have those words right at our disposal…right in our hands.

Life is hard.
Jesus knew it would be.

Little by little…we trust Him when we don’t want to…when we don’t understand.

That trust may not change the diagnosis…or the loss…or the despair.
But even if we are holding on to Him by the tip of our little finger…we are still holding on!

That is what faith is.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do no see.
(Hebrews 11:1)

Faith, despite our circumstances.
Knowing and believing that Jesus is the Holy One of God.
We have nowhere else to go.
Paradoxically, that is a good thing.

2 responses to “Fragile: Handle with Prayer”

1. My precious Gina, I do not have your gift or words. I wish I did so I could express how much this means to me. Thank you for this truth. I will never stop holding on…

   Reply

   • Sherie,
     You are welcome, friend.
     I will be right there with you…making sure you do.
     God has you…the best possible place you could ever be!
     You are loved.
     Gina

     Reply