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The Story of a Prayer

April 5, 2011 by Laura Blodgett 12 Comments

I don’t claim to understand prayer. I just know God encourages believers to pray. I know there are a couple of Bible verses that seem to say “we’ll get whatever we ask for” or “if you have faith…” but my experience suggests that I have limited insight into the complete meaning of such segments. I have no doubt that God hears and chooses to act according to my petitions, but He is not a genie in a bottle and I don’t have enough “positive vibes” to generate whatever results I want at the moment. There some concerns I have brought to Him for years, but still see no obvious answer. There are some things that I can personally tell He is working with in my life, but it would be harder to explain to another person. Some prayers have received bitterly disappointing answers. The world simply isn’t going to become a perfect place because I ask for it.
Then there are the beautiful times when a prayer is obviously and positively answered. This story is about such a prayer. It was unlikely and unsupported by the people involved. Why I would even want to think of praying for such a thing is a little strange. I asked for a non-crucial adventure.
I have been struggling to learn Mandarin Chinese for almost three years now. I say “struggling” because it seems painfully slow. I do not have the energy, elastic mind, or time availability of a young student. And yet, I plod along, refusing to give up what little ground I gained when I began during our eight months of living in Taipei. Every once in a while, I lay this apparently insane pursuit before my God, explaining at I “just want to do it” and would He help?
It was natural to dream of returning to Taiwan, but I am no jet-setter. Sure, my husband traveled for business occasionally, but a even a business trip to Taiwan was extremely far-fetched, he told me. Then, about a year ago, it occurred to me to seriously ask God for a trip back to Taiwan.
I only mentioned this fanciful prayer to a couple of friends, and that briefly and without emphasis. I didn’t even bring it up to God on a frequent basis, but when I did it was heart felt. I knew there was no practical excuse for such a trip. After that, it was on to the life at hand.
The first indication that something really might happen came about seven months ago, but I dared not really get my hopes up. For one thing, my dear hubby was quite unexcited about the idea. Even when I hesitantly admitted to him I had been praying about it. He just wanted to move on to other things. I quickly dropped the subject. I did keep praying humbly about it, but with the temerity to mention how such plan would work best with the gardening schedule!
When he came home two weeks ago with news of the real possibility of me accompanying him on a business trip that encompassed both Shanghai and Taiwan, I was both thrilled and cautious. I knew of the obstacles, such as quickly getting a visa and finding tickets at an acceptable price. Yet, today, here I sit on a huge aircraft flying over the arctic circle, well on my way to China. The timing is very convenient for my garden. Plus, I’ve already had the pleasure of practicing my Chinese with two friendly young men returning to their homes in China.
I can offer no explanation as to why this frivolous request has been granted, other than God simply thinks it is fun to give good gifts to His children. It was, after all, my 50th birthday just a few days ago.

Filed Under: Bible News Press (BNP), Heart and Mind, Worldview

Comments

  1. Jc says

    April 10, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    =] ๐Ÿ™‚ =) 8D

    Reply
  2. Anob says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:42 pm

    Very nice. Hope you’re having lots of fun and little jetlag. =)

    Reply
  3. Heidi says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    Yay! ๐Ÿ˜€

    Reply
  4. Anob says

    April 11, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    Very nice. Hope you’re having lots of fun and little jetlag. =)

    Reply
  5. Heidi says

    April 11, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    Yay! ๐Ÿ˜€

    Reply
  6. Rachael says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    ๐Ÿ˜€

    Reply
  7. Rachael says

    April 11, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    ๐Ÿ˜€

    Reply
  8. Mary Ostyn says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    Lovely! That is just how I felt about our trip to Chile. It was an unexpected gift.
    Mary

    Reply
  9. Mary Ostyn says

    April 12, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    Lovely! That is just how I felt about our trip to Chile. It was an unexpected gift.
    Mary

    Reply
  10. Chris says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    :’D WoW

    Reply
  11. Chris says

    April 15, 2011 at 7:41 pm

    :’D WoW

    Reply
  12. Jc says

    December 16, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    =] ๐Ÿ™‚ =) 8D

    Reply

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