Eyes Wide Open

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”  Matthew 19:26 

 

Have you ever had a desire so huge you thought it would be impossible to ever come true?  Or a burden so big you never imagined how it would be lifted?  

I think all of us at one time or another have had deep hidden requests of God.  And if we’re honest, we secretly never really believed they would be answered.   

I call these, “impossible” prayers. 

I’ve heard lots of excuses of why we give up praying  or never pray for in the first place.   

“It’s probably not in God’s will.”

“It must be No because I haven’t gotten a Yes.”

“I’m too tired to pray anymore."

“How can anyone ever really know God’s will?”

If all the excuses are stripped away, what we’re left with is simply, unbelief.  Unbelief that God is really capable, able or interested enough to answer our prayer. 

Part of the problem is we want our prayer answered OUR WAY. 

Are we praying, “Your will be done” or “MY will be done?”  Are we limiting God’s answer to how we think it should be accomplished?  Do we really want God’s way? 

This year in our Bible study groups, we asked women to write down an “impossible” prayer request.  There was much hesitation and trepidation . . . what would we do if God didn’t answer our prayers? 

As the year progressed, we watched in amazement as God answered prayer after prayer.  Often what we witnessed was God’s answer was vastly different than the way we thought or even prayed!   

We witnessed a loved one experience a fractured hip which exposed alcoholism, which led to rehab and the beginning steps of healing.  Completely unexpected and totally God!   

We prayed that God would change family members, loved ones, friends and what He did was change us!   

We glimpsed fractured relationships restored and watched as God brought hope to hopeless situations.  

 

Did all of our prayers get answered?  No.  But we are still trusting and still praying. 

In the movie, Princess Bride (a beloved favorite of my family), Farm Boy only says three words to Buttercup, “As you wish.”  As she grows older she begins to realize that what he’s really saying when he says those words is, “I love you.”    

I’m learning that my obedience and desire for God’s will instead of my own is directly related to my love for God.  They go hand in hand.  I can’t have one without the other.

As we’ve taken this journey of “impossible” prayers, my heart desires have changed.  My prayers are still the same but as I lift my request to God, I pray, “As YOU wish” instead of “As I wish.”  It has been a game changer for me.  It has widened my view and expanded my horizons.  Because now I'm watching, eyes wide open, to see how God is working and responding to my prayers.

Lord, may our heart’s desire be, “As You wish.”  Teach us to give everything to You . . . the simple, the challenging and the impossible.  Because we believe all things are possible with You.  Amen