None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, and yet still we go forward. Because we trust. —Brida in Brida by Paulo Coelho
I joined my daughter Annika at her summer camp one evening to listen to a talk titled, “Whatever You Do, Don’t Marry a Christian.” As the speaker taught how to find someone walking the “Trusting God” path, I was thinking, Yes! That’s the kind of guy I want Annika to marry!
Then the Holy Spirit whispered to me, I want you to fight for that for her.
Of course I will. I’ll fight for it!
I want you to pray for it, the Holy Spirit continued.
Sure I will. I’ll pray for it!
Up front, kneeling by those bales of hay, the Spirit clarified.
What? I didn’t want to go up front. It would be awkward. But I also know trust happens when I say yes to God. So I slid out of my row and told Annika, “Come on. God wants me to pray for your future husband.”
“Daaad!!”
I knelt by the bales of hay, alone, and started counting to 40, pretending to pray. Halfway in, I felt a hand on my back. “No need,” I told the young man in the STAFF T-shirt. “I’m not praying; I’m just counting to 40. Right now I’m at 22.”
“Then we have 18 seconds. Do you mind if I pray?”
I relented, and that young man prayed the most beautiful prayer over my daughter—praying for things I’d never considered. I felt the Holy Spirit whisper, I wanted to show you how to do this.
When he finished, I felt Annika’s hand on my back, “Dad, what do we do?”
Feeling empowered, I said, “This is where I pray for your marriage.” And then I plagiarized that guy’s prayer—every word. Annika was so impressed.
Some of the things God asks us to do will appear unnecessary.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. (Hebrews 11:7)
Unnecessary? Probably not. So let’s say yes because it pleases our Father as we trust Him. This makes all the discomfort worth it.
Lord, You’re asking me to do something that doesn’t make sense. Help me say Yes! Amen.