By Unconventional Means

Lately, God has been repetitively teaching me a valuable lesson. One would think I would have "gotten it" by now, if one failed to consider just how bull-headed I am. The lesson is simple. God DOES answer prayer, but the answer will rarely, if ever, come in the way we're expecting it to come.

There are times when I have to remind myself that God has four possible answers to prayer: "Yes", "No", "Not yet", and "I have a better idea". What's interesting is that all too often He employs the "I have a better idea" answer. As with all good parents, of which there is none better than my Heavenly Father, His response is to give us not what we want but rather what we need. This is the mark not only of a good parent but also of a good master/teacher.

Late last summer, we got word that my dad would be paying us a visit and taking us on a weekend getaway. This would be only the second time he has made the trip to see us in ten years, and that is mostly due to how far apart we live. Shortly after I received this news, the Holy Spirit began to convict me of how poorly I had treated my dad in the past. I won't go into the details of everything that took place; suffice it to say that I openly held a grudge against my dad for a number of years.

The grudge had long since been dropped, but I had only recently come to realize that I had never let go of my pride and admitted my wrong to him. I was guilty of not honoring my earthly father, as God's Word commands. I began praying that God would give me the opportunity to reconcile with him during this visit.

THEN...About a week before he was due to show up, the kids started getting sick. One at a time, the older two came down with a 24-hour stomach bug. A few days passed, and we thought we had dodged the bullet with our youngest...until the day Dad arrived. That prevented us from going out and doing anything together as a group, and it threatened to spoil the entire weekend. We spent the first day around the house, just going out in small groups, so that someone was always there to look after the little one.

This ended up being an answer to my prayer. Around the middle of the day, my dad and I were by ourselves in the house while our youngest slept. God used this illness to provide the opportunity I needed. The most amazing thing about this situation was that, shortly after the issue was settled, the little one woke up and was FINE! We all enjoyed a great weekend together after that.

God is so amazing! Not only will He provide all you need (that's need, not want) if you ask, but He will surprise you at every turn with His infinite creativity in doing so. Glory to His name!

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Philippians 4:19-20