Tuesday, January 17, 2012

When Prayer Feels Inadequate


I'm praying on the Saturday morning over the weekend as I'm flipping pancakes and sounds of distant hollering and squealing travel up the stairs. Sounds of children wildly playing as they await our traditional Saturday morning breakfast - only this morning in the absence of their dad.

I'm praying for their dad, as he is a couple of miles down the road receiving the message of Eric Ludy - a message about what it takes to be a bravehearted man, a man on the front lines of our faith.

And I think about our children and pray for Robby, our seven-year-old, and I try to articulate how deep my desire is for him to grow to be that man. And in my prayer, that I cannot find adequate words for, I catch myself saying, "Lord, you have no id--e--a..."

I chuckle at my words.

"Lord, you have an idea. Not only do you have an idea, you have given me these very ideas. You are the one who has placed these desires deep within my heart. You are the one with the very plan etched out for each of my children's lives and missions. I trust you, Lord."

How easy it is for me to forget, even in my most earnest prayers, that He already has us covered far beyond any emerging desires, inspirations, or realizations...

The children come scrambling up the stairs and help put plates, forks, syrup and sausage on the table. There is chaos in the comings and goings, and I cannot know for certain how this chaos will shake out. Yet there is a peace within it. Somehow I believe there is a master plan in the comings and goings of the lives before me.

And sometimes prayer that feels completely inadequate is just what I need to acknowledge God for who he is... bigger than my words, my worries, my desires and my dreams. And sometimes it's the simplest of our prayers that just might move mountains.

12 comments:

  1. Loved the images of Saturday morning that this brought to my mind....and how prayer over pancakes can make perfect sense. Thank you for your post....Kris

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful post. I love feeling like I was right with you on Saturday morning. I love your reminder about prayer. Thanks. Really enjoyed this!

    ReplyDelete
  3. yes...the simplest of prayers can move mountains...the ludy's...love there hearts...leslie's writings help shape my daughter when she was a teen....
    Blessings to you...keep flip the pancakes and praying:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, AMEN! I love this "And sometimes its the simplest of our prayers that just might move mountains." Thanks for the reminder. Next time I'm flipping Sat AM pancakes, I'll think of you and pray, too :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. i love how you pray endlessly, a string of thoughts in communion with Christ... beautiful theresa.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such lovely words here. I often find myself doing the same thing in prayer. "God, you don't know the hurt..." and then I stop and humbly apologize. I love that I can be real with God though and He loves me anyway. I can pour my heart out to Him and He just pulls me in closer and then covers me in His peace. That's the great BIG God I have come to know and love. :)

    Blessings,
    ~Rosann

    ReplyDelete
  7. nice...i am glad god is bigger than my words...and he know my heart well enough to know what is on it...the things i can not give voice to....

    ReplyDelete
  8. how true!! God is smarter than we are! and He hears ALL our prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So true. Sometimes I can only manage the simplest of prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The simplest prayers can move mountains. Oh, this is so true. We don't have to have long dialouge or eloquent words - just come to Him in faith.

    Blessings,
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you all so much for your encouraging words!

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from you. Thank you for taking a moment to leave a comment!