New Babies & Rock Collections

Ever feel like God doesn’t care about your desires?  You know, the things you dream about, those things that mean the very most to you?  Maybe a healed relationship, or a career change, a new home, or a mate?    Perhaps even a family, or a baby?

I have.

There was a broken-hearted time in my life when I just needed an answer to the question “Why, God?”   He waited 12 years to answer me.  But He answered!   I would not want to re-live that broken heart again, but I sure do love how His plans worked out!

Another time, when my son was applying to colleges, every door he attempted to walk through slammed shut.   But the Lord directed his steps to His much greater plan, which he is currently walking in.  We haven’t seen all that God is up to in that, but we are certainly enjoying watching things play out!

And then, there is that prayer that hasn’t been answered yet.  In fact, it doesn’t seem to be anywhere NEAR being answered.  But I know He will.

I often think about when Joshua  was leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, and having to cross the Jordan River, and clear out nations, whose armies out-numbered them.

(Because often times, I am praying about things that to me, seem like as big of a deal as crossing the Jordan River!)

When the Israelites arrived at the Jordan, the Lord told Joshua to send the priests with the Ark of the Covenant into the river.  As they did, the waters receded and they, along with their armies, crossed!  Before the priests came out of the river with the Ark and the water began flowing again, the Lord had a man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel take a boulder out of the riverbed.

“And Joshua set up at Gilgal the 12 stones they had taken out of the Jordan.  He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?  tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’  For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over.  The Lord your God did to the Jordan what He had done to the Red Sea when He dried it up before us until we had crossed over.  He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”  Joshua 4:20-24

I am beginning to wonder – Had I layered rocks for each time the Lord was faithful to me in answering my prayers, or even faithful in NOT answering my prayers – Or if I had saved a rock for each time His answers were so, so much better than my requests,  how high would my mountain of rocks be?

I have been so lucky to know two of the sweetest young girls ever – Best friends, the two of them.  For a long, long time they prayed for babies.   And for a long, long time it seemed as though the Lord did not hear them.   A long, long time.    But they continued to pray.

And……    Well, just enjoy the cute photo.   It says it all.  Look at those sweet smiles.   God out-does our prayers, every time.   He is good.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.”  Ephesians 3:20-21

Girls, I think it’s time we started ourselves a little rock collection…..  Don’t ya think?