#43 in the Series: Daddy, It's Me--Conversations of an Ordinary Person
with an Extraordinary Heavenly Father
My wonderful
husband, Dave, recently had another total knee replacement surgery. He had the first one about a year and a half
ago and it was a miserable experience.
Eventually it did finally heal and it gave him a new life. It was not long however
before the other knee
asserted itself with pain and stiffness until his world was once again very
small. Because of the excruciating pain
of the first surgery, he delayed the second one as long as possible. In late spring, it became increasingly clear,
that it needed to be dealt with before we went to Africa (at the time it was
scheduled for late fall). Otherwise, he would not be able to do all the
physical work that was necessary to create the sustainable farming project for
the rescue house/orphanage that we are working with in the highlands of Kenya.
Because of the many
prayers for him by friends and family, the surgery went well and it was a much
better experience with considerably less pain.
Hallelujah!
A few days after the
surgery, I invited him outside to sit with me and enjoy the summer breeze under
the shade of the Ponderosa pines. He
slowly made his way down the steps of the travel trailer, across the slight hill
to the reclining chairs. He sat/fell
down into the chair since the knee was not yet very flexible. Soon he was closing his eyes and I could tell
he wanted to snooze. I reminded him to
put the chair back, which he did, but he needed a pillow. I asked if he wanted a pillow. He said, “No.”
I could see he
obviously needed one, so I got up and got him one, declaring “You are only
saying that because you think you are bothering me!” This is his standard operating procedure. He almost never asks me to do anything for
him, no matter how much he is hurting.
And it bothers me that he thinks he is a bother to me. I love him!
I want to make him as comfortable as I can while still giving him
dignity and responsibility for his recovery.
As I was walking the
short trip to the trailer it dawned on me (Holy Spirit revelation) that we do
the same thing with God. We don’t want
to bother Him (after all He is the God of the universe and my problem must be
so insignificant), so we suffer with pain, discomfort and lack, when He is all
the time right there just waiting for us to ask! Unlike me, He will not give unless it is
asked for. He will not open doors that
are not knocked on. He will not show
Himself strong on our behalf if we refuse to seek Him.
““Ask and it will be given to
you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For
everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks,
the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give
him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then,
though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:7-11 NIV
He wants the
glory. If we never seek Him or ask Him
or knock on the doors of opportunity that He puts in our path, how will we
understand that HE provided the answer?
And His answers are so much better than anything we could imagine!
Then we must be sure
to give Him ALL the glory.
“Now to him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at
work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout
all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Remember, YOU ARE
NOT a bother to God! Like the good
parent, He loves you unwaveringly and wants you to come to Him with your needs,
wants and even wishes. It does not mean
He will grant you everything (He only gives you that which is ultimately good
for you), but He wants you to ask! It is
a sign of the kind of relationship you have when you are unafraid to
come…unafraid to ask, regardless of the answer you get.
It might be “Yes,” or it might be, “No, but thanks for asking!”
“Let us then approach God’s
throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
So again, remember,
YOU ARE NOT A BOTHER TO GOD! He loves
you and wants to fulfill your deepest desires.
When your deepest desires find their answer in Him, you will find freedom
for your mustang heart.
P.S. If
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Teri