Praying for the “Little Things”
I long for God to act in the tangible, material world but I don’t always see him doing so. My good friend recently said to me, “Good grief. If you’re a non-charismatic, Protestant without Holy Spirit experiences or the sacraments, what’s left?” Thankfully, we have left the “little things” of answered prayer. When I pray, I look for God to answer my prayers precisely as I pray, of course with the caveat “yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Most of my prayers are ongoing and don’t get answered right away, and sometimes never. But every once in a while there is a “direct hit” when God’s response is timely and shows he clearly and exceedingly answered specifically.
For instance, it may be a “little thing,” but I was hugely encouraged when I prayed God would provide a safe, clean, affordable, and comfortable hotel room for my wife, daughter, and grandchild as they drove back to Colorado from Arizona. I had been praying specifically for this throughout their exhausting drive. After 9 hours on the road they reached Santa Fe, New Mexico. My wife called to ask that I look up hotels in the $100-range near the downtown square. (Incidentally, if you’ve never been to Santa Fe, New Mexico the downtown area is charming and a mecca for Southwest Art with some fine restaurants.)
After texting my wife some typical chain hotel possibilities, none of which were in the downtown area, she found Hotel St. Francis. Although it looked expensive, the location was perfect so she wandered into the lobby to find out how much their rooms were. Not surprisingly they started at $276 per night! Thanking the hotel clerk, my wife headed back to the car to continue the quest for a room. The clerk, who unknowingly followed my wife into the parking lot, asked her how much she wanted to pay! She said “Somewhere around $100.” The clerk’s response? “Sure. How about $99?” Bam! Direct hit! After settling into their “safe, clean, affordable, and comfortable” room that was beyond their expectations, they set out to find a decent restaurant in the downtown area. It wasn’t long before they found a quaint place to enjoy antelope sliders and a good glass of vino! After an unusually restful night’s sleep from being on the road, including our newborn grandson, they headed up the mountain to arrive safely in Colorado! Truly it is the “little things” that make a huge difference!
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Thanks Jesus, for caring about the “little things.”
Paul, on the “little things”
About book cases…Just came back from a hike before work (heading out in a minute) and 2 trailers down from mine was a 5′ high solid maple book case marked FREE!
And you said bricks and boards…LOL
Right!
Thank you God!
Lisa Guinther
June 25, 2009 at 11:49 am
Thinking about the little things, Paul, and on a related note, it took me a while (as you are well aware) to learn that God’s love and goodness to us is often revealed through His children, and our experience of God is often the inner peace and love that we experience as a result of the work of the Spirit. Those who beg to hear from God but don’t listen to their brothers and sisters in Christ, or desire to feel God’s love but shun the Body of Christ are doomed to disappointment. Is it any wonder that some who are hostile against “the church” but have cushy feelings about God complain about crying to out to Him to show Himself and not getting any sign or reply?
Brad
June 24, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Interesting and insightful comments Brad. Agree entirely that we cannot pick and choose “how” God may reach out to us and that a primary means of Him doing so includes His Church. Sadly, it is sometimes within the Church where fights and quarrels arise (see Jm 4). Nevertheless, we must allow the Body to administer God’s love and goodness to us, however imperfect that may be.
Paul
June 25, 2009 at 6:32 am
Mmmmm. Love it Paul. Makes me think of an answered prayer of my wife (Emily) while we were living in the quaint town of Beatrice, Nebraska for a year.
Our time there was tough. Life was not running smoothly by any means, and the reasons I won’t go into here. Perhaps another post! But, my wife was finding great joy in her gardening… and specifically looking forward to the Peach Melba tulips she/we had planted. Probably around 20-30. As they began to grow and continued to reach upward, Emily’s excitement also grew as they neared blooming.
As they began to open, the colors looked nothing like the pictures! The colors were dull and quite ugly. Emily was quite saddened. One of her few sources of joy seemed to be turning into a disappointment as well. As they continued to open, Emily prayed these ugly ducklings would somehow turn into great swans. And did they ever! I’ve never seen tulips which were almost fully bloomed and open transform so drastically! The colors were amazing, and blew the pictures on the package out of the water! This is just one of several instances like this Emily experienced in Beatrice. During a year of transition, confusion pain and sorrow.
The Lord cares. He cares about the little things in our lives. He understands our heart, in the moment, during such times as these. He understands our needs vs. our desires.
Our neighbor at the time thought it was crazy Emily was praying for her flowers to transform. That God doesn’t care about such little things. That He has bigger things to attend to. I praise God for transforming the Peach Melba tulips, and showing Emily, myself, our daughter, and our doubting neighbors, how much He does care…. and how involved He is.
jmnks
June 24, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Thanks for sharing, Justin! Oh how “large” are the “litle things!”
Paul
June 25, 2009 at 6:33 am
This is a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Thank you so much for posting this. It is a great encouragement!
Christina
June 23, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Christina. So glad it was an encouragement to you!
Paul
June 23, 2009 at 5:02 pm