Do you ever sit back, reflect on your life, and wonder, “How did I get here?” It’s as if you’re living in a Talking Heads song. Life rarely goes as planned, yet when you look back, you’ll find out that God had a plan for your life that was much better than “Your Plan.”
The road the Lord has for us to travel will be marked by trials, struggles, good times, and bad, with defeats and victories. How do you deal with these? I suggest that we take God at his word and pray. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The book of Proverbs tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Prayer is a powerful tool that God gives us. It isn’t some sort of magical power to get whatever we desire. Prayer conforms our mind and spirit to God’s will. It is deeply communing with the Lord. Through prayer, God molds us to his will. He sends trials to refine us. It is through our prayers that we commune with Him, learn, and He shapes us.
Right after we had our 5th child, and only girl, Kathy suffered a massive heart attack. It was not a fun time, and not on my plan. I was faced with five small children, one of whom was a newborn girl, and I knew Nothing about girls, and the very real possibility that I would be raising them alone. You talk about something that will get your attention and drive you to your knees! I spent a lot of time in prayer, and it was not just me. We had the church, family, friends, and so many people we did not even know praying for us. God was merciful and spared Kathy’s life, yet she would have limited ability going forward. It seems strange to look back now, 25 years later, and see all the blessings and fruit that came from this trial. It shaped me and my children in ways I could not have imagined. I am now privileged to see the fruit being passed down to another generation. God’s plan served His purpose. It was not the road map I would have chosen, but it was the Right Path. God answered my prayers!
When trials and hard times come, and they will, your first reaction shouldn’t be “why me?” but to go before the Throne of God and plead, “Teach me, Lord, show me the way, strengthen me for the task You have given me, show me Your way.” The answer you receive might be exactly what you prayed for, or it might be something completely different, but it will be the right answer because it will be God’s answer. God, in his mercy and infinite wisdom, has given us the road map and everything we need in 66 books. Are you opening them?
Bill Waldrep