Have you ever thought about how God uses people, places, things, and timing as He answers prayer? Some people would say “It’s a coincidence”, that at just the right time the right person or the right place or the right action answered a prayer.
I think a lot about the ways God answers prayer. I pay attention as he reveals answers.
Sunday, we heard from Scott Brewer. He shared that listening is key to recognizing God’s answer to our prayers. We were reminded that God’s voice is discernible. For me that means, I will hear his voice through the ideas or thoughts that come to mind. I have a relationship with God in which, I say “He is my best friend.” I have confidence in that relationship!
I listen knowing he is going to answer. I have confidence while I wait with anticipation and assurance because God wants to teach, guide, direct and love me.
Recently, our garden team (Lifeway Community Garden) worked with Edwin and volunteers from the community and Lifeway members to build an irrigation system for the garden. The project had two purposes: one, stewardship of the water resource and two healthier plants from gradual watering.
This system had been prayed for every step of the way. From whom could design the system – planning the system – project management – materials needed – funding – and manpower to build it. Each of the above steps has its own story of how the prayers were answered. The peace of God and his provision showed us that we were to do this as a gift to the community and to Lifeway.
You can imagine the anticipation when it was time to test the first part of the project. A flip of the lever would tell us how close to our goal we were of having a working system. So the lever was flipped…….. the discovery made was that only some of the boxes received water. Just like a balloon suddenly pops and is disappointing to a child so was this news deflating to our team!
We had reached a point to finish laying the soaker hoses and begin planting. Instead of feeling defeated there was a sense that the problem would be pointed out to us as we continued to pray. I remember asking for prayer for “an easy fix”.
While we waited in prayer the whole project was completed. The plants started growing. A team of us made up a hand watering calendar.
Last Thursday, Mel Ray and I were getting ready to leave the garden. She mentioned she wanted to give a few plants another drink. When she flipped the switch to direct water to the “hand watering system” She accidentally flipped the irrigation switch which directed water to the underground system. I told her it was the wrong switch. As she closed it and reached for the other lever, she noticed that the hose which leads to the irrigation system was bound and almost completely closed. We stared at that hose realizing that was why the system didn’t send water to every box. We both were praising God for his goodness to reveal the “easy fix” and for the confidence in Him that he would point out the issue. It was such a joyous moment!
The lesson from the “hose” was not to live in defeat, not to give up and not to take matters in our hands ahead of God’s answer. Instead trusting God to reveal the issue led to the answer to our prayer for an “easy fix”.
Bev McNutt