A Matter of Trust

It's funny how things 'come together'. Got you interested? Well, here goes.

I was meeting with a new friend yesterday over coffee. She was sharing that a few things were not going as planned in her life.  It had been good and she was faithfully trusting God to 'work in her favor'.  Well, things don't always go as you plan.

An unexpected phone call left her feeling anxious, upset and wondering to herself 'where is God in all of this?'  Interesting how our perspective changes about God when he is not conducting things in a manner we would expect. Isn't there a book called 'Great Expectation'? I wonder if the main character in it also found things don't work as you plan?

Anyway, in a parallel world of mine, our life group is studying on prayer and how God's response to our prayers do not necessarily take the shape of our requests.  A few personal stories of how God did 'more than expected or asked for' and some stories of the 'bunny trails' they were sent on with questions in their mind and yet, at the 'finish line', they were dumbfounded as to what had taken place and how much better for everyone it turned out to be than the original prayer request!

I say all of that to encourage those of you (and me) who either have 'unanswered' prayers or are in the 'wait and trust' mode of their prayer request. God does not leave you 'high and dry' even though you feel like you are flailing on the beach (great visual eh?). He is right there all the time encouraging (check out the people around you), leading (keep your eyes open for unexpected opportunities) and caring (expose yourself to reading his Word which offers all three - comfort, caring, encouragement and four...direction.)  It's usually US that heads the wrong way - MY way - not HIS way.

Anyway, after some discussion about His faithfulness to her in the past and the faith and trust we are called to have when going through something and asking for His help, we emerged at the other side with all of these things, plus 'great expectations' of just what and how He was going to bring it all together 'for her good'.  I was reminded of Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

That all being said, we agreed that the walk we are on is sometimes not the one we choose but we can continue it because we know He is walking with us. Of course, that leads me right into the FOOTPRINTS prayer which is my testimony - but that's another story - for another time. God bless each and every one of you as you wait 'patiently' and 'expectantly' for your answers.