There are times in life when we pray and pray for something to happen or change, and do not see the result we were praying for. Does that mean what we want is not important? Or, maybe our prayers are not being heard?
Time for an overhaul of those perceptions. The timing we wish for ourselves is not always the timing of our Father’s, rest assured:
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come; Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8:38-39, KJV
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? —Psalms 56:8, KJV
He knows of every step we take, every hair on our heads and even more so, every thought we entertain. He is an omnipotent Father, beyond our own human ones.
Consider parenthood; in our own humanity, the joy of a new life. The digits of tiny toes, the softest, smallest of fingers wrapped around the finger of a newborn’s parent. As parents, we envision an overwhelming desire for everything positive to encompass our child’s life, forever. The birth of your own baby is the first moment you meet a tangible reality of unconditional love.
This unconditional love that we hold for our children or family members represents how the Lord sees us. We are His children, and He knows what’s best for us, even when we can’t see it for ourselves.
A famous poem written to represent how our Father lovingly guides and protects us throughout every scenario we encounter in our lives.
Footprints in the Sand
One night I had a dream…
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, There was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, You would walk with me all the way; But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, There is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me.
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.
—Mary Stevenson
In times when we know we are actively choosing not to do actions we need to do. Are these things we found to distract our time and sway our faith also important to God? Absolutely!
These are the moments when as a Father, He is able to instruct His children. Broken, tired or unsure we seek to find Him. He who loves us with an unconditional love.