Father of Many
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
I Peter 5:7 (NIV)
I can never get beyond amazement when I see how much our Father cares for us! He cares if we are sick, hurting, or heartbroken. Thank God! But He also cares about the small things that pertains to us. The mundane, day in/ day out issues of life.
As a homeschooling family, I try to ensure that my kids get a quality education- and a quality experience. Because of that, it is very important to me that our seniors get their senior trip. Our oldest chose Key West and we went there the summer of his graduation. Our middle chose the Sansestin Resort in Destin, Florida, (a short drive away). And for an entire year, circumstances would not allow us to honor our promise- sick family, surgeries, financial limitations and starting new jobs all hindered the plan.
Finally, almost a year to the date he graduated from high school and technical college, we were finally packed and ready to go. It did not come through ideal circumstances- our loved one went to the hospital just last night on our second night of the trip- but it did come. To my family, is was just time to go. To me, it was the fruit of much prayer. Daily prayer. Constant petitions. Scrounging up small handfuls on purpose (check out the story of Ruth and Boaz), all of that culminated in the fulfillment of the longing of my heart and an answer to consistent prayers.
But that was not the end to the teaching. When you travel with a 19-year-old and an eight-year-old you get competing agendas- quickly! My mother’s heart wants them both to have fun- to get to do the things that will make this trip memorable for them- a win… but they both cannot have it at the same time, all the time. Or perhaps, totally the way they want it.
I wonder how many selfish prayers we pray, asking God to give us a job that leaves someone else jobless? How many times does the right surgeon for us leave a husband or wife’s prayers unanswered as they prayed for Daddy/Mama to be home for the ballgame?
God is Father God. The consummate Father. The most loving, the most gentle, the perfect Father, but like an air traffic controller. At times He lands someone else’s jet while another waits to take off. Do not get me wrong. God has unlimited resources. He can make two people happy at the same time- even two million (or the highest number you want to insert here)- but at the end of the day, His working comes in seasons. Seasons of prayer. Seasons of waiting. Seasons of disappointment. And finally, seasons of fulfillment!
God cares about your lung disease as much as someone else’s ingrown toenail. One does not diminish the other. His care is infinite and exhaustive. Bless His Holy Name! He cares for you, so you can cast your anxiety, the whole of your care on Him! He is a good Father and He is infinitely trustworthy.
Why not release it to Him today?
Dear Lord, I pray today for those who have trouble relinquishing control to you. Help them, O God, to let go and trust you fully. I pray for those who are disquieted in spirit. The disappointed. The disillusioned. Refresh their souls and reveal Yourself to them in a personal, tangible way. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen!
Not only are you a wonderful writer for God, you are a wonderful mother to your children blessings God loves you.
Thank you, Gloria for your sweet encouragement!
Powerful reminder that He cares for us deeply. I have to let go, and let God.
Yes! Let Him do what we cannot! ?