No Easy Roads

Things were going great. It seemed like life was finally going to cut me a break. My job situation was looking up. My daughter passed another quarter at school. My stepson was just married to a beautiful, nice girl. The other stepson working hard, but has a job through this tough recession. Dad's health good other than some slight blood pressure problem. Life was looking like easy street.

I've been thinking of how I can serve God better. There are plenty of people I know that need prayers. I'd started concentrating on their needs thinking that my own life was pretty good. No need to worry. How better to serve God then to pray for others' needs? It was about Friday that I realized how wrong I was to feel so "comfortable" about my life.

It may have only been one phone call from my daughter, but it was my wake up call. Things were going so well with her visit to her brother's and his new wife. The quote, "true good to be true," plays into the twist. They were getting along so well. Then on a trip out to the karaoke bar, the new bride discovered her expensive bracelet was missing. She must have realized it after being at the bar. She asked a bartender if he'd seen it. He told her he'd given it to my daughter's friend. When the bride confronted my daughter and her friend, things went sour. They'd never seen it. Suspicions were every where. This girl, from a foreign country, newly married to a family she hardly knew now found herself in a situation of who to trust. Hurt and disappointed, she turned against her guests. To say the least, it was a horrible first impression against my daughter and her friend. Instead of a wonderful start to a new friendship with her sister-in-law, there is now a cloud of doubt and suspicion there. Not sure why the bartender would have said what he did. I have suspicions of my own against the guy. Trouble maker or thief himself?

There are things that happen in life beyond our control. It seems that there's always something out there that just wants to ruin our happiness. It's as if there's a jealous, evil entity waiting to strike whenever we let our guard down. Some call it Satan. Some call it fate. Whatever it is, I know that there is an invisible, formidable force on my side. God is always there for me to call upon. He is my vindicator.

I Samual 17:47 -- ...for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands.

Romans 12:19 ---Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. (Lev. 19:18 - Deut. 32:35)

Deut. 32:35 -- Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time.

So, whether this situation was a fluke, or a well-planned plot of Satan's to destroy our relationship with our new daughter-in-law, I believe that God can turn it around in time. She will see that we are her safety net, not a problem or plague. What Satan has meant to kill, steal and destroy, God will turn around and turn into good.

There are no easy roads in life. There is never a time when we can afford to think we don't need help, guidance, or protection from God. There is never a time in life when we don't need to trust Jesus to watch over us. I'm just thankful that when life turns into lemons, I don't have to feel victimized. Most of my life I've felt that I've had no luck, and bad things always happened to me more than anyone else. Finally, I realized that it's not my fault, and it's not under my control. I can't force any situation to be better. There are things that happen in life we have no control over. It's because of this, that I realized I will never out grow my need to depend on God.

Although it sounds like I've given up, been defeated by the situation, it's quite the contrary. I have a sense of peace, joy and expectation that I will come out on top and be victorious. Because I put my trust in Jesus, I know that I will be lead to a place I could never force my way to. He will put me upon my high places and make my enemies to be my footstool. And I will keep serving Him by praying for others' needs, because I know that Jesus' has got my back. So, fate, Satan, or whatever. Look out, because you are not going to win!

Prayer Portal?

The other day, my daughter said the most amazing thing to me. She was telling me about a friend she knows whose father has progressive Alzheimer's disease. Her friend was having a really hard time, because he's getting to the point where he doesn't remember her. She said, "Mom, would you pray for my friend? She's on my heart a lot lately .... Your prayers always seem to get answered."

I was taken aback by that comment. I don't see myself as the direct portal to answered prayer, but that's what my daughter thinks. Wow. I was flabbergasted and muttered something about being sincere when you pray. She caught me off guard. I did't know what to say. Should I have said that spending time with God and reading the Bible lets you know Him and what He would want you to pray? I wish I would have just said that prayer invites God to come into the situation. We let go and let God work. Sometimes, the best prayer is just, "God, please help them." We may not have a clue what is best in that situation, but God does. Sometimes, we think we know, but our view is so limited. It's best to let God and His infinite wisdom choose the best course of action.

I have prayed specific prayer when I have a sense of what might be helpful, something God would do to help. I go ahead and ask. I figure God will know whether or not my request is helpful. He will still decide what is best in that situation. I know that my prayers do not always get answered how I want. People still die from long-term illnesses, like cancer. I don't know why. It used to anger me, because I thought maybe my faith wasn't strong enough, but that's willful and pigheaded, as if I know what's best instead of God. I have since grown to believe there's just things we on Earth we'll never have an explanation for. We just have to let go and trust.

Prayer does effect change in people and situations. I have seen Him take certain situations and create the most wonderful, unpredictable outcomes. Prayer effects change where we let Him "do His thing" in His own way. We need to pray to allow Him into our lives and to work in every situation. No problem is too big or too small.

What would I pray for my daughter's friend? It would be wonderful if the Alzheimer's disappeared and her father was restored to his original self. I'm not sure that will happen. I will pray and ask for it, because it couldn't hurt. Ultimately, it is in God's hands. More importantly, I will pray that this girl will feel the hand of God over her life. I pray that she will find God as a father that is always there for her and will not leave her ever. Although losing her father, watching him slowly disappear is devastating, I pray she will let go of the pain and turn it over to God. It is too big for her to carry alone. I pray that she will be surrounded by people who can help her by understanding her grief. If there is a support group near her for families of Alzheimer patients, I pray she can join it. Sharing the same sorrow with others in the same type situation can be healing. I pray that friends will be there for her, just to listen or do regular things together; hanging out. Please, Lord, give her what she needs to survive this horrible loss. I lift her up to You.

Amen.