Some days, prayer feels like breathing. Other days, it feels like begging for rent money from a friend who’s already done too much for me.
This is the second in a series of articles I am writing on prayer. Namely, how it can start working for you and help you draw you closer to God.
In my first article, I shared how frustrated I was with prayer not working and how I finally turned it around (You can read about it here).
When I Finally Started Seeing Prayers Answered
I prayed for decades with little to show for it—until I discovered something I’d been missing.
Paul Dazet’s recent piece on A Wounded Healer’s Journal (
) caught my attention. Where my story wrestled with getting God to show up for me, Paul’s story was about simply showing up for God.Paul presents an excellent picture of what we should all aspire to — prayer as an act of communion — or spending time with someone simply because you like being with them.
Oh, if only I could say this about my relationship with God.
I have caught fleeting glimpses of the maturity Paul describes. Yes, usually when all my bills are paid for the month, my daughter’s car is running, and something hasn’t blown up at work.
In the rare times when life is running smoothly, I can step away from my anxieties. In the meantime, I am barely hanging on. Life feels just a bit too much, and I feel “not enough.” I need divine intervention just to make it through most days.
Yes, it would be wonderful to bask in the sweet presence of God, but right now I have an aging father to care for, the wolf of my child’s college tuition at the door, three cars with over 200k miles, and clients who expect me to excel at my job.
And the demands facing me pale in comparison to what some of my readers face.
So, how am I to square Paul’s maturity with my prayerful acts of desperation?
Simple. From what I understand, Paul is a pastor, and pastors shepherd their flock to increasing levels of maturity. This is literally what they do for a living.
He is further along the road than I am, and he’s inviting his readers to consider that there is a deeper relationship available than asking God to fix the flat tires in your life.
His article made me realize we move through phases in our willingness to talk to and trust God.
Phase 1 - Is this real?
Phase 2 - If this is real, could you do something for me?
Phase 3 - Let’s just spend time together.
For those of you in Phase 1, you are at the start of the most adventurous thing you could ever do — have a relationship with God.
If you are in Phase 2 like me, this bus is very wide and has plenty of seats. Keep digging in.
To the lucky ones in Phase 3, keep praying for the rest of us.
Whether you’re questioning, requesting, or simply resting, keep talking to Him. Every phase is still a movement in the right direction.
Available for Public Speaking
About 12 years ago, I did a LOT of public speaking. I conducted numerous workshops and thoroughly enjoyed them! Recently, I have felt the doors open again.
If you have an upcoming church event or conference and are looking for a speaker, reach out to me. I’d love to hear more.