I find myself questioning the purpose of things that have happened in my life and in the lives of those I love. I always pray and seek God’s will, but it just seems as though the purpose is so concealed, so hidden. I believe I have heard people say they wonder if their prayers go higher than the ceiling. Yes, I have thought the same thing lately.
This is especially true when there is someone needing salvation from their dark and destructive lifestyle. I’m not always led to pray for everyone, but every now and then, a ‘someone’ is put in my path and then in my heart so that I cannot not keep praying for their soul. Most of the time, there is no evidence of any change in their life or sometimes it seems as if the issues become worse. The Lord reminded me of the verse in Zechariah:
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
I stared at the words and realized that I wanted something, some evidence of fruit from my prayers. Yet, that is not how God works.
He then reminds me of His words to Isaiah:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
These words always bring my lofty thoughts back down to earth where I actually live and breathe. I realize that I sound like a little field mouse telling the big lion what to do. God works in ways that I don’t. I may want someone’s eyes opened today to the goodness of Yeshua, but maybe tomorrow, next week or next year would be the better time. I’m impatient.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without water the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
The Word, when I speak it, write it, and share it will accomplish what God wills it to accomplish, not what I think it should accomplish. It will not return to Him empty. Until He’s ready to open my eyes, I can only continue to pray or go where He sends me.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me” (Isaiah 6:7-9).
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