Inside: Are you tired of waiting for God to work in a situation over which you have no control? Here are a few thoughts to encourage your weary heart today. ~

One long-ago day when I was vacuuming the house, I was pondering a set of circumstances over which I had no control.

As often happens when I’m vacuuming, one thought led to another and soon a second situation that also was totally out of my hands—one that I had been praying about for a really long time—came to mind.

Pray for the first one like you’ve been praying for this one, the still small Voice whispered to my heart.

My Gut Reaction

Can you guess the very first thing that popped into my head after that?

But God, you don’t have a very good track record with this kind of thing.

I know. As soon as this thought hit my brain, I realized how ludicrous it was. How ridiculous, how brash, how almost blasphemous it sounded.

As if God’s track record for all of recorded time hinged on two situations that touched my life.

As if the fact that He hadn’t yet answered all those prayers the way I wanted Him to meant that He wasn’t working in the situation at all.

As if I can’t look back at my life and identify other instances where God’s timing and provision looked nothing like what I had originally desired but actually exceeded my expectations.

What Makes It Hard

It’s hard, though, when other people are hurting. When you’ve been praying about something for years and, in some ways, the situation has actually gotten worse. When other prayers are answered, but—for some inexplicable reason—not this one.

It can bring on (or intensify) feelings of doubt. Exhaustion. Impatience. Perhaps even abandonment.

Our longsuffering heavenly Father knows all of this. It might surprise us, at least if we think we are the only ones who don’t have it all together. But not one bit of our humanness surprises Him.

That day, I continued to vacuum, asking God to forgive me for my errant thoughts. To help my unbelief. To enable me to hold my expectations for how He acts in my life—and in the lives of those around me—loosely.

You Too?

Maybe you find yourself in this same spot right now. Tired of waiting for God to work how you wish He would. Exhausted from the burden that lugging around unmet expectations puts on your heart.

If you can relate, perhaps a few quick thoughts that continue to guide my soul all these years later will encourage yours as well.

• God is perfectly capable of fulfilling His purposes in other people’s lives.

• His glory will prevail whether we question His track record or not.

• It’s not about me (or you).

• Now is not the time to stop praying.

• • •

Have you ever gotten tired of praying about something over which you had no control? What helps you persevere in prayer? Please share in the comments.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with InstaEncouragements and Let’s Have Coffee.