When God Answers Your Prayers

Human beings are an enigma. No. Change that. Human beings are contradictory. Wait. Maybe we're just indecisive; I think so but I'm not sure.

The point I'm trying to make is that we seem to want what we don't have and disregard the cool things we DO have. I don't have to tell you about our tendency to value what everyone else has, either characteristically or materially or even spiritually.
We seem to be so busy evaluating what our friends and neighbors have that we overlook our own blessings.

I wonder sometimes if we frustrate God. He promises to relate to us; to know us so well He sees our hearts and knows our desires. He knows our fervent (and not so fervent) prayers. Yet when those very prayers get answered we sit dumbly and don't know what to do with them.
I'm experiencing that sensation right now.

For years I've prayed for my daughter Kari and son Ryan. I love them both so much.
Recently Ryan made some life-changing decisions that I have prayed for and fully support.
I know those decisions are a direct answer to prayer.

And yet I find myself awed and maybe a little confused in the changes Ryan has made in his life.
God's response to my prayers has altered the direction my son is headed in life. I love it.
So why do I feel confusion when I actually get to witness this answer to prayer?

I think we get accustomed to people being who they are and doing what they do. Despite our hopes and prayers we don't really expect anything to change. We attempt to fit everyone into neat little categories and that's where they remain and that's what we wrap our lives around.

I've seen many wives spend years asking God to make their husbands the spiritual leader in their homes. These women plead and cry and beseech God to do a miracle on behalf of their spouse.

Then it happens.

One miraculous moment appears and dear old hubby 'gets it.'
Suddenly dear husband is repentant (yay!), attentive (double yay!), and eager to change.

But wait a minute.

If dear hubby changes, praying wife must change also. There can't be two head honchos in the same tipi. Someone has to adapt, step back, change behaviors.

This is what wife prayed for but it doesn't feel all that good.

Where we pushed before ("Come ON. Let's go to church") we find ourselves pulling back ("Can't you skip the men's prayer breakfast just this once so we can spend time together?").

That's why we are such an enigma. Do we want the Lord to answer our prayers or not? Do we want our loved ones to experience healing?

I think the question should be: Are we sincere enough in our prayers to be willing to deal with the consequences? Can we give up our identity of being the long-suffering wife (mom, dad, employee) in order to have our prayers answered?

I used to think this saying was a joke. Now that I'm being challenged to accept this 'new son' God has given me, I'm not so sure anymore.

Be careful what you pray for; you may just get it.