But This Isn’t What I Prayed For
ANDREA REEVES
“… so is my word //that goes out from my mouth: It will not return
to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose
//for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
One day, I was on my way to class /when I saw one of my classmates
crying /while on the phone. I had just moved /to the Northeast /for
graduate school and was having a hard time /integrating my faith /into new
relationships. Maybe this is the opportunity () I’ve been asking God for, I thought.
I waited for her to hang up and then approached her hesitantly, as if
she were a deer that would run off /if I spooked her. I sat next to her
and asked [what was wrong].
“It’s my pop, he’s having surgery today,” she said /through her tears.
It was hard for me to understand her — she was very upset and there was
a slight language barrier /between us.
From what I understood, her father was having surgery /back home in
China and she was understandably upset () she couldn’t be there with him. I
felt terrible. I couldn’t imagine my dad /lying on a hospital bed /while I
was in a foreign country.
I questioned whether or not I should pray for her right in that moment, but doubt creeped /into my mind. I don’t even know [if she knows what prayer is]. Will she be uncomfortable? Or worse, will she think () I’m weird??
I said a quick prayer and decided to go for it: “I don’t know [what
you believe], but I believe in God. And I believe that God can heal your
pop,” I said to her, pretty surprised at my sudden boldness. “I talk to
God through prayer ... do you mind if I pray to Him now?”
She nodded enthusiastically.
I began praying confidently, believing () this was a conversation /ordained by God. “Lord, I pray supernatural healing /over her father —” I felt a tap on my shoulder.
“No, not my father,” she said. “My pop.”
* ordain; make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on.
I racked my brain /for all the people /in her life //who could be called “pop.” Great, she probably already thought () you were a crazy prayer lady, and now she thinks () you don’t pay attention!
“Your grandfather?” I asked, hesitantly.
She spoke again. “No. My pup. My puppy.”
My entire body went numb. I’m supposed to pray /for her sick dog? Completely
embarrassed, I began praying again; this time, for her puppy, for the
vets //who would be handling the surgery and for her peace of mind. I was
so caught off guard, I didn’t have time to think of any fancy words to
use.
*catch somebody off guard ; to surprise someone
After I said “Amen,” she showed me pictures of her cute furry friend.
I smiled at the photos, but still felt absolutely mortified /at the
change of events. God, what good is praying for a spunky little Papillon dog going to do?
Once we were done /talking, she gave me a hug and thanked me, this time with a visible sense of calmness and relief.
In the moments before her hug, [praying for a pet] felt so silly and
insignificant to me. But in the end, I saw a peace come /over her that
only my God could have provided.
Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “As the rain and the snow come down from
heaven, and do not return /to it /without watering the earth and making it
bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for
the eater, so is my word that goes out / from my mouth: It will not return
to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose
for which I sent it.”
I was upset and embarrassed /because I approached my classmate /with my
idea of what God’s purpose was for the conversation. When it didn’t pan
out /the way () I imagined, I felt like my boldness had gone /to waste.
I then realized () this wasn’t about a dog, or how confidently I prayed
or the type of cool, Christian impression () I left on this girl … God used
a simple prayer /for a dog /to show His love for one of His children. And
He let me be a part of that assignment.
God will use us /in small ways /to make a big impression on behalf of
His Kingdom … we just have to be willing /to follow His lead. God won’t
waste our efforts, no matter how big or small those efforts may feel to
us.
These steps can be uncomfortable, and sometimes our efforts feel
insignificant /in the grand scheme of things. But together, as we all
take these small steps side-by-side, we are able to make such a great,
eternal impact /on the world around us. One that will bring God glory.
Lord, thank You for letting me be a part of Your great purpose. Help
me see the ones around me //who need Your loving reminder, and show me
ways in my life that I can impact Your Kingdom for the better. In Jesus’
Name, Amen.