(Originally posted in July of 2015.) While you read this post today, I will be journeying to India. My prayer while I’m there is that God would give me His eyes, ears and heart. This is a prayer we can ask of Him each day, no matter what the circumstances. Hope it blesses you today.
Life is full of challenges, temptations and troubles. They’ve often been likened to storms, valleys, battles, sinking sand, even desert experiences, and more.
Some we bring on ourselves.
Some we endure at the hand of another.
Some are just the result brought on by conditions of a fallen, sin-cursed world.
We can even go through trouble simply because of miscommunication or misunderstanding.
Over the years, throughout this journey with the Lord, I have often begged God for reprieve from difficulty. Whether it’s a storm or a battle, whatever the case, I have negotiated. I have cried out. “God, I don’t care how you do it. Just do it.” I am still often tempted to seek for a quick solution or remedy especially when my circumstances involve pain. It never dawned on me that it’s God’s intention to bring purpose into every trial we face.
“God, I don’t care how you do it. Just do it!”
However, about a year ago, I was struggling in a broken relationship that was honestly due to miscommunication and misunderstanding. I resorted to my normal pleading and begging for God to work and I felt as though God directed my thoughts to a new way of looking at things.
I can still remember driving into my neighborhood one day praying, “God, I don’t care how you do it but please work out this situation. This person and our relationship are important to me.”
As I drove, a thought came to my mind, “Tammy, why are you pleading as if you have to convince God to restore this broken relationship? Isn’t that what He desires for you?”
Then a more profound thought came to my mind. “Why would a God of meaning and purpose just be interested in waving a magic wand and setting things right in my life without me learning more about Him in the process?” God knows that troubles will come AND He wants to use even those difficult times to bring peace and joy to our hearts as we see Him work on our behalf, revealing more of Himself.
So, no magic wand?
John 16:33b In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. No magic wand but promised victory.
He is Protector.
He is our Provider.
He is our Peace.
He is our Provision.
Just to name a few.
I pondered that for a while. Then I changed my request to God. “Lord, I pray that in this situation You would give me Your eyes, Your ears, and Your heart.”
“Lord, I pray that in this situation You would give me Your eyes, Your ears, and Your heart.”
Interestingly, God began to answer my request. He gave me His eyes and showed me areas in my own heart that He saw were contributing to the problem. He prompted me to confess my sin and error. I began to see why that person might have taken me wrong.
He then gave me ears to hear what the other person was trying to say. Perhaps before I had been hearing their words and not the heart behind them.
Most importantly, He gave me His heart prompting me to act in compassion, seeing this person the way He does. He loves them just as He loves me and that’s why countless times He says, “love one another”.
And so, it’s become a daily prayer. “Lord, in this situation, please give me Your eyes, Your ears, and Your heart.”
Even when I’m dealing with questions and need wisdom; or when I need to know what decision would please the Lord…I can pray this way. In fact, I have realized that this can be my prayer all the time, in all circumstances. God is always working, in me and around me. He is interested in redeeming and restoring. In every situation God’s purposes are deep and all encompassing. And as we approach life praying this way, we will continually bring Him glory.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3:20-21
By the way, God restored that relationship and did so much more. I learned in that difficult time that God desired for me to mature in my relationships with others. Instead of a “quick fix”, He gave me a dose of His wisdom and compassion and I’m better because of it.
Think of that difficulty in your life. What would happen if you asked God for His eyes, ears, and heart in the matter? Maybe it’s time to find out.
Have you been begging God for answers – remedies? Do you find yourself crying out, “God, please just fix it!”? Are you willing to see all that God desires to show you in this situation? Ask Him for His eyes, His ears, and His heart.
