Tammy On Tuesday ~ When Prayer is Met with Difficulty

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“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.  

Matthew 7:7-12

What a great passage, Right?  But what happens when your prayers seem to bring responses you were pretty sure you weren’t asking for from God?  How do you feel when your prayers are met with more challenges?  Certainly more prayer means more peace…at least that’s what we often think.

PINIMAGERecently the North American Mission Board chose to feature LifeHouse Church and what God is doing here in our area as they pray for ministries across the country and around the world. As a result, over the past two weeks, Mark and I have received many cards from churches across the country expressing they are praying for our family and for the work God is doing here in our community through LifeHouse Church. There is power in prayer. No doubt. As far as I am concerned, it’s the power for living. But I’ve noticed something unusual of late. Things have been getting a little difficult. We’ve met with some unexpected challenges. In fact, I said to Mark just the other day, “Doesn’t it seem as though, since we’ve begun to see this increase in prayers being lifted for us, we are actually facing more challenges?” – in our home, our personal lives, our daily circumstances, church-related issues…across the board.

One area that’s been particularly heavy on my heart is caring for my children. You may know that our family dynamic has changed in the past several months. We now have a beautiful 10 year old little girl who has become part of the family. My daughter, Sophie, is also 10. It’s been a challenge for them to establish their new boundaries, roles and identities. In fact, there have been extended arguments and vying for position over the past 2 ½ months between them. This is to be expected. But I’ve noticed over the past 2 weeks or so, (since prayers have increased) that the fighting and arguing has also increased. Their arguing affects the atmosphere in our home.

I was saying bedtime prayers with them just a few nights ago and they got into a heated disagreement as to which CD they should play that night. Honestly, I looked at the girls and my heart was discouraged. I thought, “How long can this go on?” I know even sisters compete and fight but will these girls ever just enjoy each other and stop bickering?” I went to bed feeling somewhat forlorn and I struggled to fall asleep.

The next morning, I awoke early.  Thoughts still weighed heavy on my mind regarding the relationship between the girls.  While everyone slept, I came down to my chair and began to pray. “God, you led us to this place. You brought Bianca into our home. Right now it seems nothing is going right. We want Bianca to know she has our unwavering support and love as we know she is dealing with immense grief. We want her to know she is safe. Only You can give her peace to rest in that. God, Sophie has always been so fun-loving and carefree but I don’t see that any more. Are we losing that forever? They’re struggling. We’re struggling. Certainly you didn’t bring us to this point to leave us figuring things out on our own…doomed to a ‘not-so-fairytale ending’ but that’s what it feels like. Many people are praying right now, so why do things seem to be more of a challenge?!”

I was surprised at the answer that came. It literally brought an immediate quiet to my heart. Through scripture and prayer, God spoke, “What you are seeing is what I’m working and drawing out of their little hearts to give them what you’re earnestly praying for. The behavior you are seeing is not new behavior. It’s not what they are becoming…it’s what needs to go.

It’s not what they are becoming…it’s what needs to go.

It stopped me in my tracks. As prayers increased, the work of God in the hearts of the girls was increasing. He was bringing to light the stubbornness of their hearts so that He can turn it into longsuffering and compassion.  This new understanding allowed me to rest in the process.  It has allowed me to trust even though things are a little less than peaceful.

I began to consider all of the other difficulties we were facing.  In every situation that seemed to be going haywire, God was actually working His plan – all because of the prayers of His people.  The increased prayers, brought an increased work from God’s hand.

• If I am going to grow, He must bring to my attention the parts of me that are not surrendered to Him.  This can be “very not fun!” (How’s that for good grammar?)
• If our church family is going to grow, He must bring to light the potential areas and situations where Satan is trying to get a foothold. This can require difficult steps of obedience.
• If our children are going to grow, God must reveal the challenging areas that resist His hand.  This process can just plain create a little chaos.

Have you been earnestly asking God to do a work in an area of life and things have seemingly gotten worse? Look again at what God is doing. We tend to ask God for “things” and “outcomes” but His work goes much deeper.  Perhaps He’s working out some attitudes and behaviors within you that, once surrendered to God, will not only give you victory in the present circumstance but will also give ongoing victory in this particular area in your life.

Maybe as you pray intently for God to work, He is working out what “needs to go” in you.

Not long ago, I remember Mark saying, “God doesn’t do things to us. He does things for us.”   Have you been discouraged in your fervent prayers?  I encourage you to consider today what God is doing “for you.”

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.