Mere Breath
It’s the middle of October now and I’ve only been tracking answered prayers since January, but here we are, with 12 clearly answered prayers – and these prayers aren’t even the little prayers: sickness, finances, dinner not being burnt, strength on difficult days, naps, sleep, inspiration. You know,”ordinary” mercies. When we really start looking for God in our lives, He never disappoints.
Update on Prayer No. 7: One morning last month, I woke up and walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth. My long (greying) hair was tangled in knots from not having undone my bun the night before. My face was clean and shiny from overheating in the night (thanks, crazy hormones). I looked at myself and it dawned on me, my face is beautiful — even without makeup! This might sound very conceited to a stranger, but I’ve struggled my whole life with poor body image. I’ve never really thought I was pretty and this belief has been reaffirmed over and over, both through the normal mediums (media and culture) and more cruelly from the mouths of people I love. I’ve been told to lose weight (as a teenager), to not part my hair certain ways, and keep bangs to hide my prominent forehead. I was even told I shouldn’t wear jeans because I looked “too masculine” in them. So, being at this point where my weight is higher than it has ever been (even fully pregnant), and wearing bigger clothes then I have ever had (even fully pregnant), it is a miracle to look at myself and find beauty. I’ve been praying all year for me to begin to see who God designed me to be, I want to see what He sees so that I can become more of that person. He is answering my prayers. It isn’t a quick, overnight sort of answer, it is slow and sometimes painful — but always good and always humbling.
Answered Prayer 12: My husband has been working for the last several years to get into med school to become a physician. Last year he got an interview for one of the more competitive campuses. He was told to reapply this year. A couple of days ago, we got his rejection notice (even though he applied to a less competitive campus). At some point in the last year, their application requirements changed ever so slightly that he was ineligible this year to even submit an application — now how we missed this little detail, and why we weren’t notified before completing the application, we don’t know, but we do know for certain that God orchestrated all of it. Shortly after learning this disappointing news, we got the call telling him that his application (submitted last Spring) to work as an EMT with a great ambulance company was accepted and they want him to start right away; Monday, in fact. In between the school rejection and the job offer, he and I had been sitting, and I was reflecting on a sermon I recently heard about how God always shakes things up when He draws near. Nothing is ordinary, the world gets topsy-turvy — that is just how He works. Clearly, God is near as this has been quite the roller coaster of unpredictable outcomes. Did I mention that all of this happened on our daughter’s birthday? As she opened up of her presents, delighted with each one, this verse came to mind:
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13)
We are rejoicing in Ben’s exciting new job (which will have more normal hours!! YAY!!) and for clear direction on what we should pursue this year. We are looking forward to seeing God’s plan for us, which is better than anything we could dream up, unfold.
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