“The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night” (Psalm 121:5).
The sun was hot even before spring arrived in Florida. And the sound of the ocean waves beckoned us.
“C’mon, Nana,” my granddaughter pulled my hand. Even at four-years-old, she knew to lead her blind Nana.
“Don’t go too far,” hubby said as he relaxed on a lounger.
With her small hand tight in mine, our feet sunk in the hot sand as we drew closer to the water. We jumped over the waves, giggled, collected shells, and giggled some more.
After a long while I realized I had no idea where we were—too far from hubby. Was he still watching us?
I got on one knee and held my granddaughter’s wet cheeks between my hands. “Sweet baby, look at me, do you see Papa anywhere?”
“Nope. C’mon Nana, let’s jump.”
Suppressing the panic that cramped my stomach, I said silent prayers, the kind that blurts out from the heart. The kind you want to word just right so God would be quick to answer. And my silent pleas were those that bordered on self-pity. “Oh, if I could only see a little bit, this wouldn’t happen.”
With all traces of patience tossed into the sea, I quickly drew closer to a group of folks talking. “Excuse me,” I waved in the direction of their voices. “Would you have a cell phone?” I said. “I think I lost my husband.”
As I gave the first few numbers for them to dial, I heard a familiar voice, “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, there you are,” I grinned with relief at my hubby.
“I was watching you both the whole time,” he said.
A little shame swept over me. Not because of the beach scenario. But because how often I doubted, panicked, feared that God took His eyes off me. I worried I had drifted too far from His love, His provision, and His care.
We all do that sometimes, don’t we? While in seemingly fervent prayer, that doubt turns to anxious moments. And we question His ability to rescue us when we’re walking on the hot sand of problems, tough times, and bad news.
So once again, we get on our knees as we were taught and begin to plead, beg, and ask over and over again. And when no answers come, His silence digs more anguish rather than peace. But all changes, all has more clarity, and doubt is replaced by reassurance when we follow these six steps:
Why follow these steps? Because “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14–15).
Father, thank You for showing me how to pray with the certainty that You are indeed watching listening and observing each step I take. Grant me the wisdom to recognize You are vigilant of my every move. In Jesus’ name.
As you read this, how certain are you that God does have His eyes upon you and on your situation?
Janet
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