Are You Ready?
Are you ready?
Ready for what? I still have no idea, but that is the question that God was asking me over and over. I kept letting Him know that I was ready, but He kept asking the question.
Have you ever noticed that when God asks you a question, that He already knows the answer? Just like He already knew the answer when He asked Adam who told him he was naked, He already knew the answer when He asked me if I was ready. The answer wasn’t the answer I was giving Him, it was a no.
Life is Full of Seasons
I was sick a few weeks ago, and as I was waiting for my husband to come home with the kids I was reading the last entry in my prayer journal. Which I am embarrassed to say that my last entry was April 2016.
I didn’t remember praying for the season that followed that entry. Truthfully, usually when I go back and read my journal I don’t remember what I had written. But God has always taken every word that I have poured out in trust, and been faithful in what was asked. I am constantly amazed that the exact words that I pray, is how He has provided.
So what did I write in April of 2016? Help me to trust you even when I cannot see. This was the moment when I realized the answer to the question, Are you ready, was no. This was also when I realized that I misunderstood the question. He wasn’t asking me if I was ready as much as He was asking if I was prepared.
Trust When I Could Not See
It was shortly after that prayer that I felt that many things got uncertain in my life. I began having difficulties in my pregnancy, I had many hard questions about my future, and was asking God for direction in life decisions. What I was doing was exhausting myself chasing Him for answers, when He wanted me to be still and rest in Him. For what felt like the longest time, I was living in a cloud and could barely see in front of me. I wrote about a part of this time is When The Struggle Is Real.
As hard as this season was though, I had a glimmer of trust in Him that carried me through. I know with everything in me that the seemingly simple prayer, help me trust you even when I cannot see, sustained me through a time when I felt like I was living in a cloud and couldn’t see. Are you ready?
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ─ 1 John 5:14
5 prayers God always answers Click To TweetTake Me Deeper (5 Prayers God Always Answers)
Although He has always provided the truest and deepest desires of my heart, there have been things that I have prayed for that He has not answered. When I look back, I can see that they were not according to His will. On the flip side of that I want to share with you 5 prayers that He has always answered:
- I want a deeper knowledge of who You are, and have a deeper love for You.
- Help me to trust in You even when I cannot see.
- My life is Yours, I will go wherever You lead.
- Give me Your comfort and peace that passes all understanding.
- Carry me through whatever You have for me, and even in the fire set my fire ablaze for You.
What About You?
Do any of you journal? If you are like me, you spend a lot of time praying in the moment. But what if? What if we prayed for the moment?
I believe that when we pray more for the moment, we won’t just be more prepared for what He has before us, we will also be more aware of His hand of faithfulness in our lives.
I wish I journaled more than I actually do, because every time I read my journals I see His hand so clearly in my life. Over the past couple weeks, I have been journaling more, and I want to invite you to join me in taking time today to journal. Maybe you have a journal, maybe you use your phone, or maybe you have a scrap piece of paper that you will write on and stuff in your Bible. In whatever way you journal, take time to ready yourself and pray for what is ahead.
Are you ready?
I love the reminder about 5 prayers God always answers. Thank you so much, Jessica! So often we get caught up in what is unknown or unseen about God, but he has graciously revealed so much of himself to us, if we would only focus on those things I think it would be easier to “trust when we can’t see.” Thank you for sharing today!
Thanks Jaime! May we all rest as we trust in Him knowing He is good, in the seen and unseen.
“What if we prayed for the moment” – such a profound question, Jessica. The more I grow in my relationship with Christ, the more I pray, but too often I pray for the day ahead or the moment I am in. I don’t pray for moments before they happen. Definitely something to think about.
This was one of those posts that I will need to be going back to over and over as a reminder to not get wrapped up in the doing but resting in Him and being intentional about my prayer life!
“Help me to trust you even when I cannot see.” I have prayed this many times while walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
And may He show His hand of faithfulness in your life in those moments, not because He has to, but because He is good. 🙂
Oh my goodness! My prayer has been “God help me to walk by faith and not by sight!” I have prayed this many, many times this year. I throughly enjoyed your post today! Keep up the good work!
Thank you, and thank you for reading! May He show His hand of faithfulness in your life as you walk by faith 🙂
Those surrendering prayers that we pray when we are alone with God, from the depths of our hearts, yielded to His molding and shaping, I believe, allow Him to forge the road to our purpose and destiny in Him. The long road, when we cannot see, is torturous, and seemingly lasts forever, but, oh, the fruit on the other side of that tunnel! Do we wish we had not prayed those prayers? Ummmm…..No. These prayers allow God to bring forth gold from that refining fire. And as we walk by faith in the dark places, we begin to look more and more like Jesus. Thank you for this transparent, authentic post.
Thanks for reading! Although there are times when I think “why did I pray that?”, the fruit on the other side is good…and for that I am thankful!
Such a great post! I love your list of 5 prayers God always answers. I have been praying #3 – My life is yours, I will go wherever You lead. It is amazing how He has since opened doors I had not looked for but am happy to comply and obey. God bless!
One thing that I have said recently is “He opens doors that don’t exist”… May He always open doors as you follow where He leads…
The Lord told me on September 25 that drastic change was coming. Now I am anticipating another move across country in several weeks. God always has a reason for what he says, lol!!
It is so true! And it is so important to follow His lead when He guides us to pray, or read certain scripture… etc. And when He reveals what He has asked me “Are you ready?” for …I will be sure to blog about it here! Thanks for stopping by and reading 🙂
I go through seasons of journaling. When I read back and see how amazing God is and how He has used those moments to prepare m e for what’s to come I am truly amazed.
And may you always stand im awe and wonder of our God as you seek Him.
help me to trust when I cannot see … oh yes!! need immense grace for it ..
Tough prayer… but keeps our eyes on Christ, because that is all we can see. Praying for grace upon grace for you.
Oooh yes! I could use this in my life. It’s true that the more I Journal, the more I understand what God has done in my life and where He’s taking me.
May you have the desire to journal more, and as you seek Him may you see His hand of faithfulness through it all…