Prayer for Resting in the Lord

I lean forward, Lord.

I wait eagerly for sunrise,

            for You—

to see the face of Truth

            rising in love

over my cloudy horizon.

I wait in stillness like the grass,

            at peace

with the dew, with the shades of darkness

that will not remain in daylight,

at rest

beside the mountains of mystery

I cannot understand.

I wait in fullness,

            my heart open

like the blooms of summer zinnias,

holding nothing back.

I wait in reverence with the trees,

            with nothing to boast of

except for the One who made me

as I am,

            in His image.

I lean forward to see You,

            to know You,

                        and to flourish

in Your presence today.

Amen.

Resting in the Mystery

No sooner had I sat down cross-legged on the floor when a three-year-old girl in a floral summer dress plunked herself down into my lap and leaned back against me.

Microsoft Office Photo

We were at the preschool children’s worship time on Sunday morning. I filled in as a teacher that week, and little Claire had met me for the first time only moments before. But, child that she is, Claire felt the need for the security and reassurance that an adult provides, and she trustingly sought them in me.

I thought of Claire this morning as I read through my devotional journal. It reflects this season in which I feel anew the need for security and well-being, for assurance that I’m safe and all will be well.

Sometimes, as adults, or maybe as single women, all we want is to walk into the embrace of a reassuring person (like a husband, father or grandfather) and lean in. I don’t have a way to fulfill that desire physically right now, but the Lord addressed that need in my heart. In my journal I wrote this impression from Him:

Rest in the mystery of me; lean back against me, though you do not see me, and be at peace, my child.

It’s a hard concept for me sometimes: leaning on the everlasting arms of an invisible God. It’s one of His many mysteries—His presence tangible to our physical and emotional beings, His ability to work all things together for good.

We can’t figure out how He works, how He moves. But we don’t have to. He just wants us to lean on Him with the trust and faith of a child.  

Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3, NAS).

Rest today in the wonderful mystery of your loving God.

Prayer in Time of Drought

 Father,

The dust chokes me,

            stifles my breath.

In the lethargy of heat

            I’ve grown weary:

Vigilance receding

like water from the creek’s edge.

Alertness fading

like porch cushions exposed to sun.

Father, forgive me.

O Son who thirsted

            on the cross

that I might drink Living Water,

refill the empty wells of my heart.

Lead me to times of refreshment

            in the Spirit’s presence,

to the sparkling, still waters

where Your words are

clear and healing.

O God who supplies in all seasons,

I look to You who

restores my soul,

who makes me

            flourish in the wilderness.

Cover me with Your promises,

            and with Your love,

and I will bloom amongst Your

goodness and mercy

again.

Amen.

Clouds Without Rain

The grass is dry as hay, the flowers wilting in record-breaking heat. Where I live, we haven’t had rain in at least a month.

That’s why my friend was so disappointed when she told me about the dark clouds and lightning that failed to produce rain one day last week while I was out of town.

But that’s not the only reason she felt disappointed.

The incident, she said, felt like an analogy for her current single season. Just when she thinks the conditions seem right for God to bring a man into her life, nothing happens.

At times, I’ve felt that way myself. Perhaps you have too.

Now that this relationship is over, surely the right man is about to come along.

Now that I’m in a new town … new church … new ministry, I’m in the perfect place to meet someone.

Now that I’ve turned 30, or 35, or 40, the season for marriage must be right around the corner.

Maybe we get these ideas because of the crazy things people say to us—you know, “As soon as you (fill in the blank), God will bring you a partner.” Maybe they come from our own scripts and timelines for our lives.

Or maybe we look at God the way a meteorologist looks at the weather. We think we can predict His next move by looking at our circumstances.

But circumstance isn’t the instrument that gauges the predictability of God. His Word is. It tells us that His love, provision, power and trustworthiness don’t change, no matter what the weather is doing. He is, and will not fail to be, faithful.

Isaiah 66:9 says, “’Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?’ says the Lord.” In other words, “Am I a God who doesn’t finish what He starts?”

If we need rain, won’t he bring it? He will. And as my friend Sharon pointed out, He doesn’t need clouds to produce rain.

Whatever weather this season of singleness has brought for you, keep your focus on the truth of God’s Word, and watch for His faithfulness. He won’t let you down.


And one more thing. It poured soon after I drafted this blog.

In the Places That Hurt

We’ve all heard them—heartbreaking yet inspiring stories of people whose painful, challenging or unwanted circumstances created a new arena for spiritual ministry.

People like Joni Eareckson Tada, whose quadriplegia became a tool to bring her closer to the Lord and to spread His message of spiritual wholeness to thousands of people.

Or Corrie ten Boom, a never-married woman who lived through Nazi cruelty, injustice and loss, helping others find the love and forgiveness available in Christ.

You can think of others. Their experience was also the Apostle Paul’s, who said, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).

Paul, Joni and Corrie experienced what we all can: the higher, spiritual reality that transcends the lesser reality of physical circumstances. The joy in Christ’s love that, I’m beginning to believe, is fully received and felt when things seem to go wrong.

God’s purpose, I think, in all things.

Could all this apply to prolonged singleness?

Yes. God needs us in the places that hurt because others are there who need to see His grace, hope and love in action. And maybe He allows us to be there too because we ourselves have yet to understand the wonderful depths of who He is to us.

Are we willing to reach out for Him? To find Him? And to let our unwanted circumstance become a place of wholeness for others?

Prayer to the Lord Over Circumstances

Lord of all,

            be Lord even of broken dreams,

Lord over every shattered piece

            edged with tears.

Be Lord of disappointment and grief,

            of sorrow, of loss.

In all things be Lord, so You may also be Redeemer.

Fill me today with fresh assurance

            that Your plan prevails,

that my hope will not be in vain

            nor my vitality thwarted by circumstances.

Oh God in this fallen world.

            be Sovereign.

Be Savior, my Way, my Truth, my Life

in all things.

Be Father, in whose arms

            all is well.

Amen.

Praying for Truth in All Circumstances

When was the last time one of your single girlfriends told you about her latest adventure and said excitedly, “I can’t believe how many single men were there! And they were part of my generation, too!”

I can’t think of a time, either.

Maybe I’m over-generalizing. If you can think of a time when that happened, then please let me know. I want to go wherever she went!

Sometimes, our experienced reality is not very encouraging. It’s hard to feel hopeful and encouraged about a future marriage when we don’t readily see options and possibilities around us.

Our circumstances might be true for the moment, but they are not the end of the story. God gave me some insight about that this morning.

I encountered the word truth in Philippians and looked up its meaning: genuine, real, unconcealed. The notes in my Bible say we can be assured that God’s utterances—His truth—agree with reality.

And that’s when God reminded me: although my circumstances are real, He holds the greater reality. What He has said in His Word about me, my life, the world and Himself supersede temporary circumstances.

God isn’t limited because we can’t figure out where the men are. His power and ability to work are not diminished because of our lack of  experience. 

I’m hanging my hat—and my hopes and dreams—on the truth that transcends my experience.

Philippians 4:8 says, “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Pray for:

• God to highlight specific truths that have been overshadowed by circumstances in our lives
• Our minds to be renewed and faith strengthened by meditating on what God says
• God to remind us of good reports of His work in the area of marriage and relationships