Hello and happy Spring!! This is my first post since we officially hit spring on Sunday.
I was in Florida last weekend visiting our girls at college and Saturday and Sunday were such beautiful days!! There were severe thunderstorms and a tornado watch on Friday, so I was even more thankful for the nice weather after that.
We had a wonderful time together for those few days. This trip included our first round of wedding dress shopping for our older daughter. Seeing her in a gown and veil made me realize that this wedding is really happening! Such a change for all of us, but a very happy one.
Change is actually the theme of today’s blog post. We’ve all likely been through seasons when we’ve asked God to change something around us. Let’s look at five areas we might have prayed for God to change in our lives.
1. Our location.
Maybe you didn’t like the weather or the part of the country. Perhaps you wanted to be closer to family…or farther away from them. Missing a group of friends or a church community may cause you to ask God to change the location of where you live.
2. Our family situation.
You’re single and want to be married. Or you want children but are struggling with infertility. Maybe you wanted a daughter, but God gave you three sons. Whatever our family structure, we can often wish that something were different.
3. Our health.
Some people live with chronic illnesses. Others have a disease that’s in remission but could flare up at a moment’s notice. Or maybe it’s just ongoing aches and pains that we’d like to be rid of so that our lifestyle isn’t impacted.
4. Our trials.
If we got a vote, I doubt any of us would voluntarily sign up for trials! Whether they’re financial or physical, involve rejection or disappointment, trials test our faith.
5. Our relationships.
It could be a work situation, a leader at church, or a family member that seems to bring out the worst in us. We believe that if God could just deliver us from that interpersonal struggle, life would be so much better.
So is it okay to pray and ask God to change one or more of these things in our lives? Unless what we’re asking for violates a Bible principle, I believe it is. And as we pray, God may choose to change our location. He may give us a new family situation or meet a health need. God may deliver us quickly from a trial and bring resolution to a strained relationship.
But if we’ve asked and He hasn’t changed the situation, what should be our response? Let’s look at three things.
1. Remember that His grace is sufficient.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~2 Corinthians 12:9
If nothing changes today or tomorrow or next week, we can know that His grace will be sufficient for us right where we are.
2. Believe that God has a purpose in everything He does.
“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” ~Psalm 138:8
If we sense that God’s answer to our prayer to change something is “no,” then we get the opportunity to trust Him. We get to rest in the knowledge that He knows what is best for us.
3. Know that God uses all things to grow us to become more like Christ.
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” ~Romans 8:29
Whether the situation we’re praying about changes or not, we can know that God is always directing events in our lives to draw us to Him. Constantly smooth roads and uninterrupted happiness would not create the depth of character that we need to mature in our faith.
Are you praying about something in your life today that you’d like to see change? I trust that God will give you peace about the situation and grace to move forward whatever the answer.
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” ~2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Related posts:
- How to Move Forward When We Don’t Know What to Pray
- 11 Common Fears and the Bible Verses We Can Use to Fight Them
- 5 Valuable Ways to Worship God Like David Did
There are some things that I would like to change right now, but they’re not changing. I keep reminding myself that God loves me, and He is using these circumstances to make me more like His Son. And that He has a purpose for everything even if I can’t see it. Thanks for your reminder, too!
Praying for you, my friend. When you have time, would love to hear an update on how everything’s going as you’re settling into your new place.
You know I relate to this post deeply…except for the wedding dress shopping!!!!!!!!! SUCH A HUGE DEAL!!! Praying the best over your family, soon to expand by a son-in-law!
Yes, I do know you can relate to this post!! Appreciate your prayers! This will truly be a new season of life for all of us, and I’m trying to remember all the previous seasons fondly while moving forward into this one with anticipation and excitement.