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Oh friends, we do like quick answers to prayer. Kind of like zipping through a trouble free, fast food drive-through.
We crisply place our order.
Hold this.
Extra that, please.
Proceed steadily forward.
Swipe the card.
Grab the goodies.
And away we go.
As we wait for God to answer our prayers, it’s not all that unusual for us humans to develop a rather demanding spirit, stamping our impatient little feet like a tantruming two year old, trying to finagle outcomes to our requests.
Laser focused on hearing a resounding YES for very specific items or clear cut agendas we’ve spelled out to Him, we easily forget to pray and truly mean, ‘THY will be done.’
What if doors never seem to swing open wide or we’re becoming more frantically disappointed as we wearily rattle the reluctant doorknob or continually kick at the splintered wood?
What if it feels like the heavens are closed to the cries of our frustrated, saddened, or anxious hearts?
What if we’re not even sure anymore that God cares?
What if He’s got something up His celestial sleeve far worse than we ever imagined?
This may sound odd, but I’ve learned to pray for the closed door.
A closed door that doesn’t budge no matter what I do.
This is supremely helpful for me. And I think He understands.
Our faith in Christ morphs and stretches as we slowly learn to fully trust Him with whatever He has for us. Especially if it’s news we’ve got no interest in hearing.
As we indulge in less hand wringing, throw all our preconceived agendas to the wind, faithfully pray for His will to be done, and become truly willing to listen up, the Sacred Doorkeeper stills our agitated exhaustion.
He gently offers hopeful direction to our newly eager-to-discern hearts, inviting us to a deeper, more substantial level of faith, even as we continue to bide our time in His sacred waiting room.
The Holy Spirit whispers, ‘No, this door is not going to open for you. But keep on moving forward, my dear child, because I’ve got one down the hallway with your name on it. Accept and embrace My peace. I know the plans I have for you and all will be well.’
Because Isaiah 30:21 is oh so true -
‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk ye in it.’
May we become quicker to unclutch our grasping hands and let our wearying strivings cease, choosing instead to focus on discerning His lovingkindness and direction in the waiting room. And may His best and brightest will become crystal clear to us, in His time.
Linda
‘Simply trusting every day;
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by,
Trusting Him, whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.’
Edgar Page Stites
(1836-1921)
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