God's Answering Machine

...in Jesus name, Amen.

So, you've just prayed for something. Maybe a simple request, like healing for a cold or "traveling mercies" over Thanksgiving vacation or for help finding your phone. Maybe it's a huge request, like healing for cancer or for refugees fleeing from Syria and Paris or for wisdom for your life plan.

But you end your prayer and wait. "They" say that prayer is a conversation, and you've just done your part of the talking. "Your turn," you tell God. And you wait. And you wait.

By the time life's busyness sweeps you away from waiting, you've decided that you must have caught God's answering machine. So you leave a message. "Hey, just get back to me whenever you get a chance. You know how to get in touch with me. You're God, after all."

Having done all you can, you move on. I mean, you don't really move on, because your request is still pending and you still need an answer. But once you've tried prayer, it's time to go on to Plan B.

If Plans B, C, D, and E fail, then maybe you try again. "Maybe God's done taking care of the orphans in Africa and keeping the planets spinning so I can ask Him again," you might think. "He'll be ready and able to answer me."

But to your dismay, you catch voicemail again. Maybe you don't even make it to "Amen" before you realize you're talking to yourself. So you resolve to try Plan F.

Over time, maybe you forgot that you prayed for healing for the cold you finally got over. Maybe you find your phone in your pocket and get on to work. Maybe a door opened for you to move forward in your career. And life goes on.

"God, why haven't you answered my prayer?" you ask the next time you pray. "I know that your answer isn't always 'yes', but I need at least some response!"

I totally did not expect to find a cartoon depicting the premise of this entire post!

One day, you sit down and reflect on what's happened in the past few weeks, months, or even years. And you realize...

...You asked for healing from a cold. A few days later, you recovered and got on with your life, and you forgot to thank God for healing you.

...You asked for help finding your phone. A few minutes later, you found it in an obvious place and rushed to work and forgot to thank God for revealing it to you.

...You asked for wisdom, and looking back, you can see that God guided you away from a path that was bad for you and gave you the very best.

And you realize that your prayers were never voicemail left on God's answering machine. You finally discover that He's been watching and protecting and guiding you all along. Every yes and every no has led you to this moment.

And you understand that, no matter how distant or busy He seems, no matter how terrible your circumstances appear, no matter how daunting your request, God is answering.

You just have to slow down long enough to see that it is God's hand working for your good in your life.

Take some time to reflect on your own answered prayers and thank God for His great faithfulness.