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11-01-09 (Lost and Found)
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Stephanie McIver
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Nov 01, 2009 06:54 PST
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Steph’s Stuff
11-01-09
(Lost and Found)
I was on the phone with a friend. She had called me during her work day
and mentioned that she had a report due that afternoon. There was a
problem with it, one she’d been searching for all week—and if she didn’t
find it, she would be working through the weekend—something she did NOT
want to do.
“Well,” I said. “I’ll just pray that God will shine a beacon on that
problem so that the next time you look for it, it will stand out like a
sore thumb.” She thanked me for the prayer and we hung up.
About an hour later, my phone rang. “Thank you!” she said joyfully.
“As soon as we hung up, I went over the report AGAIN. I don’t even know
how many times I had looked at the data—but there it was, plain as day.
I’m done! I can twiddle my thumbs for the rest of the day. THANKS!”
We laughed and I praised God for the answer to that casual (and on my
part, forgotten) prayer.
My friend and I went out to dinner and movie on Friday night. The next
day, as we shopped for a birthday gift for his niece, he began pulling
everything out of his wallet. “That check I needed to deposit! It’s
not here! I KNOW I put it in my wallet!” We searched the car. We took
everything out of his wallet and found some receipts from five years
ago—but the check? No dice. We went back to his house and went through
the trash. I looked in the dirty laundry to see if it was in a pocket.
We crawled under chairs and tables, looked under the bed. I called the
restaurant and theater we had been at to see if someone had turned it
in. But it was lost. He was stressing out and I reassured him that
checks can be re-issued. He hadn’t endorsed it. It was the weekend.
No one could have cashed it in that time. But he was still stressed out
about his carelessness—or forgetfulness—Old timer’s disease, perhaps?
I took his hands and prayed that if that check was still around, that it
would reveal itself. I prayed for peace for him and the reassurance
that God was in control, even when we aren’t. We went on with our
plans for the evening, but I could tell that it still weighed heavily on
his mind. He called me a few minutes ago. “I found the check! I had
put it in a file—not in my wallet!” Another answered prayer for
something that was lost.
“Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the
skies.” Psalm 36:5
It also reaches into the computer reports and failing memory banks,
restoring those things we lost—even little things that seem huge at the
moment, but are transient in the bigger picture. Yes, my friend could
have given up and told someone else to find the mistake on that report.
It would have been resolved somehow. That check could have been
re-issued—there is no doubt that, in spite of stress and hassles, there
is usually a viable solution to problems—but prayer? Because of prayer,
those other last ditch efforts didn’t have to be made. She has the
weekend off—he doesn’t have to wait another week or month to deposit
that money. And I just smile, realizing once again, what a great and
mighty God He is. No one knows it firsthand better than I do.
If He gives this much attention to lost things—how much more attention
will He give to lost souls? I reapply my faith to those I pray
for—those who don’t know Him yet. I pray for opportunities to minister
to them—to show them how much His love has impact on every area of my
life—for good, for hope, for growth and maturity. For JOY! For
courage—the courage to continue in the dailiness that would have one
less faithful hanging their head in despair. I’ve been in that
place—and He pulled me out—again and again. He will do it for you
too—He will do it for your loved ones. He finds checks and data errors
because we prayed about it! They are NOTHING compared to the value of
the lives He has put in our paths. I trust in that, today and every
day.
“[The Day the Sky Will Collapse ] Don't overlook the obvious here,
friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand
years as a day. God isn't late with his promise as some measure
lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the
End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and
time to change.” 2 Peter 3:8 (MSG)
Have you lost something? Even if it’s silly, go ahead and ask Him to
show you where it is. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve prayed that
prayer and it has been answered—sometimes immediately—like in the case
of car keys when I’m late for an appointment. And as I continue to pray
for the important things—my loved ones and others who He will bring into
my path, I have faith that He hears those prayers even more urgently and
they will be resolved in His perfect time.
Check the lost and found.
Fondly,
Stephanie
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