Randall was totally frustrated. He sat on the living room couch, holding his phone. He had just received the call. He didn’t get the job. Again. He had lost his job about eight months ago, and he was having absolutely no success in finding a new one. “Lord. What am I supposed to do?” He had been praying about this for such a long time, and still, it seemed like there was no direction from God. It seemed like God didn’t even hear him. Sometimes, he thought, what’ s the use? God didn’t seem to be listening to him. Philippians 4:6 came to his mind. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” “Yeah, right!” He thought to himself. As he sat there on the couch, something came to his mind. It was a situation that happened many years before.
He had been involved with a Christian drama group that would perform skits, and sometimes, full length plays at churches, and at other venues in the area. They would meet each week at the home of the group’s founder, Janet, for rehearsal. On this particular day, they had just finished rehearsing, and were sitting around talking, and eating some snacks. Janet’s son Melvin had come in saying the car broke down about two blocks away, and after trying to start it up numerous times, he just gave up, and walked the rest of the way home. Randall thought that it was a miracle that the car had been running for as long as it had. It had definitely seen better days. Janet asked Randall and Ron to go with Melvin to see about the car.
When they got to the car, Ron asked Melvin for the key. They all got in, and Ron put the key in the ignition and turned it. Click. He tried it again. Click. Ron turned in his seat and looked at Randall and Melvin. “Do you guys believe that God can start this car?” He asked. Both stated that they believed that he could. Randall knew that God could do anything, but why would he start this old car? Then he though to himself, “Don’t doubt. Just believe.” Ron said a short prayer. “Lord, if you’re up there, and you hear us, please start this car.” Roy turned the ignition once again. The engine roared to life! They drove back to Janet’s home shouting praises to God.
Randall sat back on the couch as he re-lived the situation. Yes, God had answered their prayer that day, and God had answered all of Randall’s prayers over the years, in one way or another. Randall knew that. Sometimes, he just needed a reminder of all of the many ways God had moved in his life. “Lord,” Randall prayed. “As Philippians 4:6 says, I won’t be anxious. You know my needs, and no matter what it looks like, I will trust that you are moving in my situation, and that you will guide me as I bring my petitions to you. Thank you for what you have done, what you are doing, and what you will do.”
Thought: When we present our needs to God, we can trust that he hears our prayer, and even if we can’t see it, we can trust that he is responding to our prayer.