I like it when God answers prayers in big, radical ways.
Like when an envelope filled with a large amount of cash appears in the mailbox of a couple preparing to adopt internationally.
Like when after years of trying to have a child, God unites parents and son in a way only he can orchestrate.
Or when there is not a dime in the budget for a blogging conference, and suddenly I win a free ticket.
I like it when God answers prayers in big, radical ways because the events are so obviously His doing that I don’t have room to second guess or take the glory for myself.
But God doesn’t always answer prayer in big, radical ways.
When I won the ticket to Allume, I saw it as evidence that God wanted me at that conference, but the financial situation was unchanged. We did not have a dime in the budget to cover travel, food, and/or lodging to make the trip a reality. I was trusting God to provide, and I was expecting another big, radical move.
I applied for a sponsorship thinking maybe this was the way, but I wasn’t selected.
I sent out pitch e-mails to several companies offering sponsorship opportunities but nothing materialized.
I waited for money to fall out of the sky on top of me. Yeah, that didn’t happen either.
Even though nothing seemed to be happening, I continued to act in faith that God would provide–I booked plane tickets. I committed to a room with 3 other ladies.
Little did I know that behind the scenes God was slowly but surely supplying the money.
Around the same time that I won the ticket, my husband and I made a decision for me to stop accepting new clients at my job and begin to cut back my hours. The end goal being to stop working completely and be at home full time. As a counselor, I am 100% committed to seeing my clients through until they are finished with therapy, so I continued to see and am still seeing several clients. At the time we committed to Allume, we did not know how long I would continue to see clients, but through that job, God has provided exactly what I need to attend the conference.
Do you know what my temptation is in this situation? I’m tempted to say that I paved the way to Allume myself after God provided the ticket. I did the work. I earned the money. But I know that is a lie–the sin of pride and greed rearing it’s ugly head.
At the very heart of this blog is the belief that everything I AM, everything I DO, and everything I OWN belongs to the Lord. <–Click to Tweet!
I was able to work a job because God provided the office, clients, education and skills necessary for me to do so. The money I earned there was His to begin with and remains His as I seek to be a good steward of it.
I’m also tempted in the opposite direction–to think that since God didn’t provide in a big, radical way, that maybe I was wrong. Maybe I should stay home. That is a lie as well.
God’s method was not big and radical, but it is still His provision for this situation–with lessons in the getting.
I’m learning to pray big prayers–prayers that only God can answer. I’m also learning to recognize that His answers come in many different ways–both big and radical and small and subtle. To Him be the glory for every bit of it.
How has God answered prayers in your life? Take time today to stop and recognize the small ways that God has answered your prayers. I’d love to hear!
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