08 Jul A Dad Who Listens
It never ceases to amaze me how my seven-year-old daughter reserves ALL of her questions for when it’s time to go to bed. In her pj’s at the moment we’re done with “bible story” (as she likes to call our nighttime ritual), I am met with a plethora of questions about discipline, my favorite “fill in the blank”, and even theology. To be completely transparent, there are times when I think, “Seriously, you’ve been with me for like four hours and you want to ask me that now?!”
Recently, she asked me a rather deep question about God and I remember feeling this powerful purpose behind her inquiries. As we lay on the bed across from one another, I patiently listened to her voice. Suddenly I began to hear her heart. It was almost as if something clicked for me at that moment. I started to realize that for her it was so much more than getting an answer to a difficult question; my daughter wanted to connect with Daddy.
I like to think that prayer is much like this. There is something supernatural about knowing you’re not alone; having someone to go to who hears our raw, imperfect, still downloading selves is transformative. I’m sure many of us have questions about our lives, our past, and even our future, but what I’ve found to be true in my own life is that the real reward isn’t the answers to all of my questions or even that miracle I’ve been waiting for; the real gift is the presence of my Heavenly Father.
In Phillippians 4:6, scripture instructs us to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to remember this verse, but the ones before and after it are much easier to forget. Verses 4-5 say, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
The idea that I can rejoice because of God’s nearness, that I have access to Him, is both simple and profound. Yet, at times I find myself focusing more on what I don’t have instead of what I do have. Verse 7 goes on to say, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If I were to be completely honest, I’ve lost count of how many times I have approached God with questions and came out just as clueless as when I went in. But, often, I have found myself filled with His peace.
Prayer is less about what we receive and more about who we become. I also want to let you know that it’s ok to just talk to God. Yes, He’s the creator of the universe, but He’s also our Dad who enjoys just being with us, even if it’s just listening to us talk and asking random questions. Maybe this looks like you sitting quietly in your home once everyone else is asleep, or during your drive into work, or maybe joining us for prayer on a Friday morning at 7 am where you can talk to God along with others. Whether you choose to do one or all of the things mentioned above, you might not get the answer/response you want. But I’m confident you will get the very thing you need when you pray.
Barnabas Willis, Executive Pastor