Sometimes, through prayer and looking back, God lets us see
how our lower story fits into His upper story.
Other times, life doesn’t make any sense at all. Prayers go
unanswered, dreams die, and we don’t know why.
It leaves us with a question to wrestle with.
If the dream you’re praying for with all your heart is not
answered the way you’re asking for, will you still love God?
The quick answer is of
course I will.
But think about it. What are you praying for with all your
heart?
A spouse?
A child?
A change in a particular situation?
For a child to come home or a loved one to come to faith?
Healing?
I don’t know what you may be going through, or if you’ve
wrestled with this question. I have, and I can tell you, it takes continued
prayer and looking to Him for all that I need. It takes laying down what I want
and accepting God’s Will.
If you never find that perfect someone…
A child isn’t in God’s plan for you…
The situation does not change…
The child doesn’t return home or the one you’re praying for
doesn’t come to faith…
If the disease and pain persist and healing doesn’t come…
Will you still love and follow Jesus?
Can you accept God’s Will in your life over your own?
More than just nodding your head and agreeing, will you tell
Him?
Jesus, you know my prayers, my dreams, my greatest desire…I lay these before you now. If it is not in your plan for me to have __________, I will still love You. I will still follow You. If my dream dies and my prayer goes unanswered, I will not turn away from You. Even if __________ never happens, I will always love You. Amen.
This is our last chapter “Home…I Have a Future” in our
study of Sheila Walsh’s book The Shelter
of God’s Promises. Whether you’ve
followed the study or visited on occasion, please feel free to leave any
feedback you may have in the comments section.
In Christ,
Laura
Linking up with On Your Heart Tuesdays, Winsome Wednesday, Word Filled Wednesday, WholeHearted Home Wednesdays, Women Living Well Wednesday, Thought Provoking Thursday, Faith Filled Friday, Spiritual Sundays, Hope for Hurting Hearts, and Encore.
This is the kind of journey I am on at the moment - it's a hard one to say 'still I will praise you, Lord'. I think I am saying that, at the moment, but it has not been easy.
ReplyDeleteComing to you via Laura's
I agree with you Tanya, it is not easy. That's not to mean that we're thinking of not sticking with God, but that it's hard to accept that God's plans might not include what we want. I think it's a conscious effort to say, "Lord, even if I never have _____, my praise, honor, and love still go to You."
DeleteThanks for visiting! ~Laura
Speaks to my heart as I have been asking God lots of questions lately about circumstances in my own life...but you are right...faith and trust do not stand on what God does for us but on who He is no matter what is going on in our daily lives. I join you in saying ...YET will I trust (and love) Him.
ReplyDeleteHow blessed we are that even if God's answer is no, He doesn't leave us to deal with the disappointment, grief, hurt, & so many other emotions, alone. He has promised to never leave us, and He walks through it with us.
DeleteThank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Blessings,
Laura
Yes, many times God doesn't answer the way we think He will either. Just this week I was reminded of this by Beth Moore's Revelation study - that our prayers are never forgotten and are ever before Him in his golden bowl!
ReplyDeleteExcellent point...God doesn't forget or ignore our prayers. Sometimes the answer is no, but sometimes the answer is not yet. And other times, the prayer is answered differently than we would've thought to ask for! Thanks for your for your visit and comment!
DeleteThough he slay me, yet will I trust in him...(Job 13:15)
ReplyDeleteAmen!
DeleteWhat a week Laura! It's been one of the worst I can remember... and the next couple of weeks are going to be difficult also. I cannot share online but my heart has been wrenched, punched and bruised this past week and just when I thought I could take no more, it's going to happen all over again on the 19th!
ReplyDeleteAdded to this, I've had constant pain with tennis elbow plus a really bad re-occurring respiratory infection which has knocked whatever energy I've had left this week out of me.
Do I still praise Him - "Yes, I still praise Him" because although I am being sifted like wheat, God is allowing it for His glory. I know He is writing a story... and one day, I may be able to share that story I hope for His glory.
A hard week of physical pain for me, but no question about it--I still love Him! And i don't know what I would do without His strength and arms of love.
ReplyDeleteWendy and Pamela, I pray you are each having a better week! Thank you for your comments!
DeleteThank you for this sensitive post. I needed it today. You are a blessing, Laura. Thanks for linking up this past week over at WholeHearted Home Wednesdays. I hope to see you tomorrow as your posts are always such an encouragement.
ReplyDeleteThank you Judith!
Delete