So, I'd like to tell you about something funny I did. But first I have to explain a couple things. I watch a show called Supernatural. There is an actor on the show named Misha Collins; maybe you've heard of him or about him, maybe not. Well, he’s a little outside the box (and by a little, I mean a lot.) Seriously, just google “meanwhile, Misha. Here two pictures that might explain a couple things:
He actually tweeted his phone number! Well, as you can imagine, all his fans went crazy sending him texts and calling. Just for laughs (and curious as to what his voicemail was) my friend decided to call the number and she listened to his voicemail and told me to call the number so I could hear his voicemail. Now, one thing about me, I am really shy. Even talking to people (or the idea of possibly talking to someone on the phone) freaks me out. So I didn't want to do it at first because I was afraid he’d answer. haha crazy, right? Well, eventually she convinced me to call the next morning. My reasoning was that calling at 8am here is around 6am where he is, so I figured he wouldn't answer.
So that morning, I calmed myself down enough to dial the number and a computer voice says “state your name at the tone and we will try and connect you.” At that very second I freaked out and hit end call… haha yes, I hung up at the possibility of talking to Misha Collins… Well, my friend convinced me to call back (and not hang up) and I got to hear his voicemail which did not ask me my name. The funny thing is that the second time I called, I wanted him to answer. I know I'm weird.
……………...
Now, I do have a reason for talking about this on a religious blog.
I feel like we are sometimes like that with God. We dial in (pray), figuring we’ll just go to voicemail (that He doesn't hear our prayer), and when we hear (or feel) a response we freak out and hang up (tune Him out.) Prayer can be many things to different people. Sometimes we don’t feel anything when we pray, kind of like going straight to voicemail. Sometimes we hear, or feel, God responding to our prayer, like the few people Misha actually answered. Some of us who pray because we feel we have to, or we aren't completely open to the idea of God, freak out when we feel His presence, like how I freaked out at the thought of Misha answering my call. I can go on and on about different reactions and feelings in prayer, but the point here is that it is ok. Unlike my example of calling Misha, God doesn’t have a voicemail. God hears our prayers, He even knows our deepest desires that we can't even put into words.
I want to encourage you to pray knowing that God is waiting to answer your call. Sometimes He is that friend who is quiet and listens while we talk about our problems. Sometimes He is quiet while we learn from a mistake; God doesn't knock us on our rear and shout “I told you so!” He waits and lets us decide our path. There are rare occasions where God speaks to us, when He speaks make sure you pay attention. But most of the time He leaves us subtle hints. Like I’ve said before, God doesn't send us a billboard that says exactly what He wants us to do. No, He tosses toothpicks at us and after a while we are able to step back and say “Oh, that’s what He was doing!”
Try to keep that in mind next time you are frustrated with praying.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen
God Bless! :) Thank you for reading!
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