Sequence Of Events

I know that things happen for a reason and sometimes we know the reason and sometime we don’t and sometimes it hits us in the face as its happening.  Well, I got hit in the face twice this week.  It is absolutely amazing when you can see God work in your life in real time.

Last week, as many of you know, my grandson was admitted into ICU because his platelet count was so low.  The reason they found this out is because he was over-suctioned and was bleeding around his trachea.  The nurse called the doctor and was told to bring him in.  If he had not been over-suctioned he would not have seen the doctor and they would not have discovered how dangerously his low platelets were and therefore would not have found his intestinal and staph infections.  Who knows how much worse it could have turned out had the infections gone undetected for any longer?  Praise God for answered prayers……Jason should be released tomorrow!!

Another event this week got my attention.  My son Jason was in an auto accident (a fender bender) that left his Jeep inoperable.  So we had it towed to Rocky’s and he has been staying with us until it’s fixed.  After a few conversations with the other guys insurance claims agent it was clear that even though the other driver made an illegal U-Turn in front of oncoming traffic they still might not pay for the repairs.  Jason was really stressing over this because he only has liability.  I asked him “have you prayed about it?”  He said” no, it wouldn’t do any good.”  I told him that even though God knows what we need before we ask He still wants to hear from us.  He wants us to humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge how much we need Him.  I could tell that Jason right in that moment learned something about prayer that he didn’t’ realize.  He learned that it’s just as important to pray about the “little things” as it is to pray about the big things.  Later on we talked about how the sequence of events led us to the point of talking about prayer and how God works in our lives. Because if he hadn’t been in an auto accident he would have been at home and we wouldn’t have had that conversation; A conversation that will change his life forever.   It is a wonderful thing when you can simultaneously discuss and experience the power of prayer with your 22 year old child!! 

Pray about everything because God already knows our wants, needs, desires tribulations and circumstances.  He can only answer our prayers if we give Him the opportunity. 

Scripture

He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayer. Psalm 102:17

Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Romans 12:12

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.  James 5:13

Never Alone

Have you ever been in a situation so desperate that it just seems hopeless?  Your teenage son or daughter just said they hate you while slamming the door in your face, you’re wondering how you will ever pay the pile of bills that seem to get bigger and bigger each month, your heart is broken so badly you feel that you will never be able to love again, the responsibilities on your shoulders seems so heavy that you might collapse under the weight of it all……  Do any of these situations sound familiar?  Although your situation may seem hopeless, it’s not!  Nothing is beyond the hand of God. 

This world is a sad and lonely place at times but we don’t have to go it alone.  God has given us hope and encouragement through His word.  Answers to all of our daily problems can be found in the bible.  God’s message for each and every one of us is to trust in Him no matter what desperate situation we find ourselves in.  He is the answer and He will show us the way if we only trust in Him.

There are numerous examples in the bible of God’s love and provision for His children when they were faced with what seemed to be an impossible situation.  David went into battle against a giant with a sling shot, Noah was asked to build an Ark, Jonah was swallowed up by a whale, Job lost his entire family, his health and his wealth, Abraham was told to give his son as a sacrifice!  Can you imagine God telling you to build an alter and then use your child as the sacrifice?   Can you imagine doing it?  That would be the ultimate test of my faith for sure!

God’s ways are not our ways.  He is a holy God and trusting Him is the only way to survive the daily battles of this life.  He will either get us through it or get us out of the situation we see as hopeless.  Noah built the ark, David slain the giant, Job was blessed with double of what he had before, Jonah was spit up out of the whale’s belly and because of his faith in the Lord, God provided a sheep in place of Abraham’s son.

Fortunately, this life will end someday and we will be face to face with our creator, God!  Until that time comes we must trust in His ways even when we are facing giants.  Remember there is absolutely nothing we can’t overcome when our faith and trust is in the Lord. 

SCRIPTURES

The angel said, "Don't kill your son or hurt him in any way. Now I can see that you trust God and that you have not kept your son, your only son, from me."  Then Abraham looked up and saw a male sheep caught in a bush by its horns. So Abraham went and took the sheep and killed it. He offered it as a whole burnt offering to God, and his son was saved.   Geneses 22:12-13

The God of my rock; in Him will I trust : He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Savior; thou savest me from violence.  I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 2 Samuel 22:3-4

Behold, if He slay me, yet would I trust in Him; but I will defend mine own ways before Him.  Job 13:15