As I made a left-hand turn into the open space, I saw no immediate problem with my parking job . . . that is until I tried to exit my car. What seemed like plenty of leeway in my peripheral vision did not translate into a practical gap for me to leave my car with ease.
With my vehicle parked next to a shopping cart corral, I could only open my door about a foot. Although the margin of space looked tight, I figured it was quicker to squeeze carefully through my slightly ajar door than it would be to pull out and find another spot.
I only made it about halfway out of my SUV before my body became wedged. I-was-stuck. How embarrassing! I quickly coerced my body in reverse and retreated back to the driver’s seat.
Sure, I could have started the car up again and found a new parking spot that had ample latitude to open my door; but no, something welled up inside me that said, “Nope! Not today! I got this!”
So, I gently opened my door again, sucked in my stomach, clenched my rear-end, forced my way through that tight space, and triumphantly walked towards the grocery store with my head held high:)
Oh, if only I could always place that much confidence in God as I did in my compressed caboose capabilities that day!
The longer I am a Christian, the less I understand prayer. I once sat in a small group where believers were sharing life updates:
The first woman told her story of how she fervently prayed over her family for protection against Covid. She even consecrated the doorways in her home so that no sickness could enter. Result . . . No one in her family caught the coronavirus. God answered her prayers with health and protection.
Then another godly woman shared her testimony. She too prayed with zeal a hedge of protection over her family. She also anointed the entrances in her home, and yet . . . her family tested positive for Covid.
So, what happened?
Was one Christian more pious? Did the first woman have a better prayer formula or a holier doorframe? (I don’t think so.)
I’m not here to preach on prayer . . . like I said, I’m still figuring out aspects of that on my own spiritual journey. But I can share with you what I have been learning over that past several years:
· I have watched fellow Christians (probably unintentionally) beam with pride and take partial credit in positive outcomes with their prayers. Maybe I used to be that person to others? If so, I’m sorry.
· A plethora of undesired outcomes has humbled my prayer life. Even with persistent requests and all the faith I can surrender to God, sometimes He has different plans.
· I now have a deeper understanding of grace. I understood grace as it related to salvation in heaven, but now more than ever, I see grace connected to situations here on earth . . . Proverb - “There but for the grace of God go I.” (A recognition that another person’s misfortune could be your own if it weren’t for the unearned blessing of the Lord.)
· We are instructed to pray. I will continue to pray. There is mystery in prayer. Even though I don’t quite understand it all, I will carry on and make my prayers known to God.
· My confidence is not in my prayers, but rather the One who hears the requests . . . trusting that His will is better than mine.
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42 NLT)
P.S. I entered the passenger side of my vehicle to get back into my car after grocery shopping. I already defeated that tight space and didn’t feel like making my body compact again;)
I pray that tight parking spots remind you to place confidence in Christ, whatever the outcome of your prayer request may be.