When we “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done” then they “put their trust in God (Psalm 78:4-7).”
Greta* recently told me, “My stomach hurt so I prayed and my stomach stopped hurting.”
*Greta, our very much loved granddaughter, turns six years old today.
Before his arrest, Jesus went to Gethsemane, and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will (Matthew 26:39).”
We know how God answered that prayer: “It was the will of the Lord to crush him . . . He bore the sin of many (Isaiah 53:10-12).”
Those who pray “Your will be done” often find the path to joy is through pain.
We were touring Israel together. One man used a cane to steady himself. After 2 days of walking on uneven and rocky terrain, his cane’s rubber bottom wore thin. Our guide suggested we look in tourist shops for something that might work until we got to Jerusalem, where we could get a new cane.
Our next stop was the ancient city of Bet She-An. As walked through the ruins, we came to what once had been stores. 
Empty of merchandise, with no shop keepers in sight, my husband noticed a rubber disc. It fit perfectly on the bottom of the cane. We used medical tape to hold it in place. It lasted until we arrived in Jerusalem.
God still provides for his people. That is why we pray.
The Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt (Numbers 20:15-16).
When you cry to the Lord, he hears your voice.
“Eugene Peterson has died and is now with the Triune God he has loved his entire life. Family says Message author joyfully looked toward heaven as he neared death, saying, ‘Let’s go.'”*
*adapted from: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/october/eugene-peterson-died-message-bible-long-obedience-resurrect.html
Sometimes the Lord’s answers seem slow in coming. Sometimes it seems our heart’s longings will never be realized.
Pray anyway. Pray always. Pray. Pray. Pray.
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:5).
I substitute teach part time. Early last week, a job in a bilingual class was posted. I speak only English so I did not take the job right away, but asked Lord to keep it open if that’s where he wanted to use me.
He kept it for me, and I had a wonderful day working with students from all over the world.
I will continue to pray and choose jobs believing we were created “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
