For years, I have been praying for a particular person in my life. It’s someone who I’m not especially close to, but some I wish I were. I don’t see them everyday, but they cross my mind constantly. I’ve prayed over the decisions they make in their life, the people they choose to do life with and for their relationship with the Lord. I wasn’t in a place to directly share my testimony with them, and the couple of times I tried, I was shut down.
It’s incredibly difficult to see the potential in a person and watch them ignore God’s will for their life. (I guess I know now how my parents felt much of my college years). In many situations, I have an opportunity to do something — I can pray with a person or talk to them. I can share Jesus or I can invite them to church with me. I can make a tangible effort to help them see the love of Christ. But in this particular relationship, the only thing I could do was pray. And that was really hard. I knew I wasn’t the person God had in place to be the witness, but I knew I could spend time on my knees in prayer. It didn’t feel like much at times, but it was everything.
Earlier this week, I found out this person rededicated their life to Christ. I was speechless. The person on the other end of the phone had to make sure I was still on the line. I didn’t know what to say or how to respond. As soon as I hung up the phone, I began sobbing. For years, I’ve prayed for this person. I’ve shed so many tears over their choices and their life, and at times, it seemed impossible they’d ever come to know Jesus again. It seemed too big a task.
As I pulled myself together after the phone conversation, I felt embarrassed about being so blown away. Why does it surprise me that the Lord answered my prayers? Why did it take my breath away when I heard the news?
I know who God is. I know He is a God of great power and promise. I know He is good and faithful. I’ve seen Him do the impossible more than once — in my own heart and in the hearts of others. So why then, did this seem so surprising to me?
I wasn’t there for the change. I didn’t see this person wrestle with God’s call on his life. I didn’t hear His prayers or His cries. I only saw the surface, and on the surface, he seemed so far away from God. But in one instant, He was on His knees, bowing before the Lord and laying it all on the line.
As I draft this post, I’m crying again. I’m completely humbled at what I’ve seen. I praise God for this answer to prayer — in His time and not in my own.