Did you ever find yourself searching for answers? Wouldn't it be nice to have a hotline straight to God's ears to know what He wants you to do in any given situation? Especially when we are in a very difficult season.
During one challenging season for me, I found myself needing answers. It's funny how God puts scripture in front of us when we need them the most. After a long and stressful day, I would read the Bible at night to calm myself down. I had been thinking about David and wanted to learn more, so I started reading 1 Samuel. I was reading about the story of Jonathan, Saul's son, and how he knew God was with him. It says in 1 Samuel 14:6-7 (NIV), Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few."
"Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."
The following scripture tells us how Jonathan explains what they will do and how they will know God is with them or not. 1 Samuel 14:8-10 (NIV), Jonathan said, "Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands."
In Jonathan's case, it wasn't a prayer to help guide him, but it was an action that he took according to what God wanted him to do. I kept repeating it over and over again. Jonathan says, "If the people say come on, then": we know God is with us. But if they say, "Wait there until we come to you," Then Jonathan knew God was not with them. It was God's way of communicating with them and showing them what to do. It was an either-or-action. Jonathan didn't struggle with what to do. Because doing it this way, he would know if God was with them or not. I read that over and over again. It made me realize how different I could pray.
My tough season was when my dad passed away, and my mother, who struggles with dementia, was planning to stay alone in her home for a year—being her only child and living a thousand miles away from her, this terrified me. I didn't know what to do. This scripture stopped me in my tracks. I read it over and over again before finally saying, "OK Lord, I'll give it a try." Then I prayed, "Dear Heavenly Father, If you want my Mom to come home with me, please let her be the one to say she wants to come home with me. If not, she'll remain here, and I'll know she's safe with you. In Jesus's name, I pray." And I went to bed. (To be continued.)
Let's pray,
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the way you communicate with us. Thank you that our eyes and ears are open to your ways, Lord. May we start to see our connection with you, to begin to blossom and come to life with our prayers. God, we know you are the way, the truth, and the light. In Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen
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