Don’t over-react.
Don’t smile too big.
Don’t make assumptions.
Softly biting down on the inside of my lower lip, I willed my facial muscles to stay composed as the conversation unfolded. Internally, I kept coaching myself: Just stay in the moment and keep listening.
You see, my typically private child was freely sharing some deep thoughts from her heart, giving me my first glimpse of what God was doing behind the scenes. A faint ray of hope shining on the many prayers I’ve prayed for her.
Even while working to appear “cool as a cucumber” I was lifting a silent prayer of thanksgiving:
Thank you, Lord, for trusting me with this precious moment.
Thank you for letting me see the stirrings of YOU underneath the current of continual heavy-heartedness.
::
Think back to the last time you prayed and prayed for God to move in a situation, but nothing seemed to be happening
You keep fighting discouragement and doing your best to “press on” in the faith department.
When there’s a glimmer of God-action, your hope sparks once again. And you’re almost overwhelmed by it in the best of ways!
Then — if you’re at all like me — you fight the urge to jump back into the driver’s seat (link to blog: Jesus take the wheel link) and get this thing moving again back on the spiritual track you’ve designated for it.
This is where I find the New Testament story of Jesus and Lazarus (John 11) so helpful.
I especially love verse 15 where Jesus is talking about his plan for Lazarus. Everyone is discouraged because Jesus didn’t come earlier and now Lazarus is dead. Just before Jesus resurrects Lazarus, He makes this profound statement:
“I’m glad I wasn’t there, because now you have another opportunity to see who I am so that you will learn to trust in me. Come, let’s go …”
(John 15:11 TPT)
Jesus works in His way and His timing. We’re called to trust Him and pray that our loved ones will respond to His gentle pursuit.
And that last phrase, “Come, let’s go” is the invitation to keep following His leading.
Because my heart is SO wrapped up in wanting to control how this plays out with my daughter, I have to be purposeful in my pursuit of more of Jesus. The last thing I want to do is get in the way of what He’s doing in her life.
So …
Here are a few ways I’ve learned to respond when I begin to see God answering my prayer:
(also known as waiting well while Jesus does His thing so I don’t mess it all up!)
🔵 REMEMBER His past faithfulness and thank Him for the opportunity to keep growing in faith
John 11:15 TPT …because now you have another opportunity to see who I am ….
🔵 RECOGNIZE the baby steps that have led to THIS moment.
This moment of seeing the beginning of many prayers being answered.
This is another great place to thank Jesus for His intimate presence in your life.
🔵 RELEASE how you think it should all play out.
🔵 RECOMMIT to trusting Him MORE as you gear up for the next leg of the journey.
I created a 3×5 notecard of “Remember, Recognize, Release, and Recommit” that you can print out and tape to your bathroom mirror or use as a bookmark as a way to help you wait well while Jesus does His thing.
Friend, let’s commit together to keep our eyes on Jesus as we trust Him with the precious people in our lives.
‘Til our faith becomes sight.
