I've been repeatedly asking Berry Guy to replace the lightbulb in the hallway - it's been burned out for weeks now and we both keep forgetting about it until it's evening and we need to turn on the hall light. So the other evening Berry Guy finally got to work replacing it. Berry Baby was playing in the hallway at his feet as he started to do this job.
Now, our light fixture cover is frosted glass, about 12" square and flush with the ceiling. As Berry Guy pulled this cover down a bit to get at the lightbulb, the whole thing came down and fell square on Berry Baby's head, shattering glass everywhere around him. Berry Guy yelled, Berry Baby started screaming, I came running and found my baby in the middle of broken glass with the rim of the fixture hanging around his neck. All I could say was "oh God oh God" repeatedly.
Miraculously (and I do not use that word lightly) Berry Baby is absolutely fine. There is just the TINIEST scratch on his precious little cheek. After the glass was cleaned up and dusted off and we knew he was ok, reality kind of hit and I felt like throwing up. That could have been SO much worse. Every time I think about it I get nauseated.
The reason I'm telling this story though is not really to share what a horrific experience that was. This is really more about praying.
I believe in prayer. I absolutely believe that God answers prayer - I've SEEN Him answer prayer many times. I just do not believe that God answers MY prayers.
It seems to me, however incorrect it may be, that if Berry Guy prays for something, God will for sure answer. If I pray for it, most likely nothing happens.
Now I didn't say that my thinking isn't completely flawed - this is just my struggle. And to be honest, it's been a MAJOR struggle since Berry Baby was born. It seemed that through those first horrible 4.5 months God deliberately did NOT answer any of my desperate prayers, to the extent that I have stopped praying altogether. At least by myself. I still pray with Berry Boy, and I've made it part of Berry Baby's bedtime routine to pray with him too.
Which brings me to why I am telling you this whole saga.
Berry Baby's bedtime routing goes like this: bathtime, pjs, bottle while snuggling in the rocker, then we stand up, snuggle by the crib, and I pray a little prayer which almost always goes like this - "Dear Jesus, thank You for giving us a good day. Please give Berry Baby another good sleep tonight. Guard his heart and his mind, keep him safe and help him grow. Amen"
Now this is kind of a routine prayer, but apparently God honors even routine prayer. Because the only reason Berry Baby wasn't horribly hurt in that accident is because God answered my very routine prayer and kept him safe. Just like I ask. Every night.
So I guess I'm out of excuses.
Thank You Lord.
4 comments:
Amen. In matters of prayer, He hears, and He *is* responding, just not always the way we would picture. He wants you to pursue Him. He will be found by you. He promises. Believe that He wants intimacy with you as much as you want it with Him. Actually more. But He doesn't want to be something we check off a list, something we schedule and set a time limit to and micro manage (see today's post on my blog ;) He wants us to WALK WITH HIM. Praying for you dear friend. It's a great place to be when we stop trying to control our fears and desires through prayer, and learn to let go and submit and rest in the knowledge that HE is in control. Our job is to live out the fruits as we walk in the path of His choosing for us today, even when that path is rocky and steep. It's good to be travelling this road together.
Thank you for being so honest... I have struggled with the same thing for years and particularly bad the last year or so... honestly I have felt my man will hear and be answered and I will not. I got used to saying I just wonder around till I hit a wall and then I know I didn't go God's way... Guess I will have to work on this today, since you reminded me...
I love the way OHF orchestrates things... I just finished emailing you a great prayer guide my mom gave me. It helps to provide some ideas of the kinds of things we can pray over our children.
Yeah... I know what you mean about God answering the fervent prayers of husbands. I also know that I often lack the patience and faith in His ability and desire to answer my prayers.
I'm so glad OHF protected BabyB.
You are absolutely right about prayer. He hears and answers prayer. Maybe not always on our time line..but always on his and that is really all that matters. he is a MERCIFUL God! I thank him that he watched over your baby! We sometimes get so got up in us that we don't take the time to realize that it is all about "him" Our heavenly father. We don't realize that it is just by the Grace of God that we take our next breath..I also had a similar incident last night. We went riding with some friends and their 5 year old little boy got trampled by a horse..He is doing good just has scratches and bruises. I thank God for his mercy and for sparing my friends little boy. He is a merciful God worthy of our Praise. Thanks for sharing you have blessed me this morning.
Joy
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