Play this out in your mind….
Someone comes to you and shares a problem or an issue going on in their life. Not knowing what to say or perhaps seeing the situation as impossible or difficult, we say, “All we can do is pray.”
Good answer. Right answer. But our voice inflection would often show that we say it with a resignation, with a sense of hopelessness, of giving up. It often may mean that we are turning to prayer as a last resort. Prayer is a great last resort. But it is an even better first response to any given situation. And it should be our “turn-to” – continuously.
Several months ago, Lisa came & shared a situation. She had received hard news. News which could not be changed by doing anything but waiting. Wait for the outcome. Waiting is a hard thing to do & an even harder place to be in – for months. So when she shared the news initially & I realized the magnitude of the difficulty, I said…
                                            “All we can do is pray.”
                  And I meant it. Sincerely. Deeply. And pray I did. For months.
Friday I learned my lesson….
Sitting with Lisa at her OB appointment, which also included an ultrasound, was an amazing experience. There is no way to describe the depth of emotion I felt as I saw new “Baby C” so perfectly & fully formed in her belly. To realize that there was a new life squeezed into the inward parts of the one that was once squeezed into my inward parts was overwhelming.
Then came the words, we longed to hear…..
- “She is perfect.”
- “No markers for anything.”
- “Cyst dissolved.”
- “6 pounds 3 ounces already”
- “All her organs are functioning normally”
- “She has turned!!!”
And here she is….
         
In the afternoon, while cleaning, I was still overcome with emotion. That is when it hit me…..”All we can do is pray?” It is actually ALL we need to do. Now I know that not every situation turns out the way we want it to. I know that not every prayer gets the response that we would desire. But here’s the deal…
“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).
No matter the outcome, desired or not, we would have been supplied exactly what we would have needed to get through the situation. He would have been right there with us, in the examining room, supplying us with strength, mercy, His love, His peace.
Prayer…it is not “all we can do”. It truly is the only thing we need to do.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV).
  We bring our needs, our prayers to a God Who is mighty, Who is great, Who is able.                          We pray because no matter what, “He’s greater still.”
                                   http://youtu.be/Vf2YJAG84_8
