Prayer. It’s our connection to God and sometimes I forget the power behind the words that I pray.
Last week Mr. Diamond and I were on a business road trip. We had stops all over Florida and it was supposed to be a bit of fun for me. People often wonder what I do when I travel with him. I guess it is a legitimate question. I read a lot, write letters, write blog posts and just generally chill out.
This trip was a little different because I was not feeling my best. Insert sad face.
I had something going on in my mouth that was not normal or fun. Without going into too many details let’s just say the left side of my mouth was on fire. To the point that I could not chew or even touch my teeth. I started popping Extra Strength Tylenol and soldiered on since it was the weekend.
We started looking for emergency dentists and I was ready to just cut that part of my head off. My fun trip had turned into not so much fun.
But I prayed about it. I asked a few others to pray because it was going to be a very long week and I did not look forward to having a dental procedure done away from home.
After the weekend passed I realized that the pain had settled down. It was tolerable. And then it disappeared. Just about as quickly as it had set on it disappeared. I quipped to a friend that my prayers must have worked.
And then later I realized. My prayers did work. Which made me think about how I pray. If I was so surprised that my prayers were heard where was my faith?
It kind of slapped me in the face. If I pray and believe that God hears me why was I so surprised and reluctant to believe that my prayers were heard and answered? Oh, me of little faith.
It just goes to show me that I am continually learning.
So what is the explanation? I have my theories. There is a lot of stress in my life right now and I suspect that the mouth pain may have been due to teeth grinding or some other stress related action. Or it could be more of a tooth issue (which of course I am following up with my local dentist) but whatever it is I am so grateful that my prayers were heard and answered.
So I continue to learn. I continue to realize that I don’t have it all figured out. I continue to realize every single minute that God is just a prayer away and He DOES hear me. I continue to seek Him and realize that sometimes He has to jolt me into realizing that my prayers can indeed make a difference.
Have you ever had an answered prayer that you didn’t fully embrace as an answered prayer? I would love to hear about it in the comments. Remember all comments this month mean a 50 cent donation to our Comments for a Cause — ASPCA.
11 Comments
Leave a commentThis is true… we do seem to be surprised sometimes when our prayers are answered. Well, answered in the way that we WANT them to be. I’m glad your pain has disappeared and hope you can find out the cause, just for your own peace of mind.
Thanks, Dianna. I am learning every day that I really need to embrace my faith and realize that the answers are there all around me. Why am I surprised? Still growing –always learning. Thanks for stopping by!
We will continue to learn until our last breath. I am so glad your pain eased up and your prayers were answered. Now I hope and pray some of your stress eases up as well. Sending hugs. xo
Thanks so much! Life long learning, right? Even when it comes to my faith. I have to remember that every single day. Thanks for the hugs!!!
Beautiful – faith can be so hard to grasp at times.
Yes. Indeed it can be. Thank you for stopping by, Marla. I need to stop by your blog today. 🙂
A pastor friend recently told me that if I am pouring out my stress/fears/complaints to God, then that shows the depth of my trust. Even when I don’t feel like I am trusting. God wants to hear our sighs. And, yes, too many times I am slow to recognize that God has answered my prayers. Not always as I desire, but as He knows best.
As Christians we should always be growing in our faith, lest we begin to take it for granted.
I really appreciated this post. I hope all turns out well with your mouth pain, my friend.
Thanks, Audrey. The pastor had very good words to share and I take them to heart as well. I always am somewhat surprised at my lack of faith in times like this. I “think” I have faith but then this incident makes me really wonder just how strong that faith is. Baby steps every single day but I do believe in the power of prayer. Thanks for your words.
Great post Beth Ann! This post got me to thinking about how I’m more accepting and understanding of unanswered prayers more than answered prayers. In the end, there is power in all prayer.
Thank you, Val. I am always learning –you would think by this age I would have more figured out. 🙂 But yes–there is definitely power in prayer.
For 20+ years, I had full control of my finances. All I had to do was go out and shake the money tree (= put any of my numerous job skills on the market). Suddenly my husband was dead, I was 40, and money just wasn’t growing on that tree any more. It still isn’t. People in cyberspace are still reading what I write, just as people in real life are still glad to use my services, but for some reason they seem to imagine that they don’t need to *pay*!
I prayed. I don’t trust people who throw around the word “vision,” but I don’t usually think in pictures, and a picture popped into my mind. It was a picture of a disabled patient in a hospital bed trying to push the button to summon the nurse, not being able to reach the button. With it came the thought that Christians are the Living Body of Christ.