God’s Mysterious Answers to Prayer
What’s that ruckus?
From my home office, I could hear the racket. Loud, clunking, arrhythmic noises were coming from something big and mechanical. At first, I thought the washing machine was out of balance and trying to walk out of the basement again, but I quickly discovered my central air conditioning unit was the source of the noise.
No air conditioning . . . and it was ninety degrees outside, with a lot more summer on the calendar. I shut down the unit and called the repair man. His assessment?
“Call the sale office. You need a new one,” he told me.
“There’s no way to fix this one?”
“Lady,” he said, “this unit is twenty-two years old. It’s served you well. Let it die in peace.”
“Well, can you estimate what it will cost to replace?”
Without a moment of hesitation, he said, “I’d guess close to $3,000.”
Bad news multiplied
I nearly fainted—and not from the heat! I didn’t have an extra $3,000 lying around waiting to be spent on a new air conditioner. I’d just have to limp along without it.
But the next day was another blinger! Hot and humid. I tried to coax the air conditioner to work, if even for a little while. “Come on, please cool the air,” I begged it.
It sputtered for a minute or two and then started making the clunking noise again.
Resurrection prayers.
This was war! I went outside, laid my hands on that contraption, and prayed for it to come back to life. “Lord, nothing is impossible for you,” I said. “I believe you can easily restore this machine. But if this machine is not to be resurrected, then I pray for a money miracle. Provide an unexpected windfall or provide unexpected benevolence to pay for a new air conditioner. In Jesus’ name I pray and thank you in advance. Amen.”
I went back in the house and waited. And that night my prayer was answered—only, not in the way you’d expect or even the way I prayed. The temperature outside fell into the forties! I opened the windows and let the cool air displace the heat.
The next morning the house was so cold, I had to dig out a sweater to put on. I giggled with delight at God’s creative solution.
God’s creative plans.
I had come up with a plan and presented my suggestion to God. I even gave him alternatives in case he needed choices. He came up with an answer I never conceived of.
Though I didn’t know how long those unseasonably cool days and nights would last, they had been a sign from God that he saw me, he heard me, he was concerned for me, and he was working on my behalf.
I am all about big, bold, specific prayers, but I know I have to let God decide how and when to answer them. My job is to keep pressing in for more as I wait for him to respond. Through it all, God was teaching me a new lesson about growing my faith—that the end of my resources is just the beginning of God’s.
He creates and solves and delivers in ways we couldn’t ask or even dream of. His storehouses are stocked beyond our imagination. Our job is to pray and trust. God will determine how and when to deliver.
Verse for today: A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. – Proverbs 16:9 nkjv
Prayer: God, when I get so worried about things, help me to remember that you have all the solutions to all my issues and problems. Big dilemmas for me are nothing for you. Remind me that nothing is impossible for you. Amen.
Thank you, Robyn, for the reminder that when we pray specifically, God’s answer may not be as we envision but He DOES hear and answer!
Right!?!
We’re living like Jesus. Luke 22:42 Not my will but yours, oh LORD.
With our air conditioner we made 2 payments.,
The first payment half of it and the rest after it was installed.
My Dad said to it that way. It was hot here when ours went out also.
What a good solution. Thanks for the suggestion.
I’m getting ready to go on a cruise in October if Lord’s will. On my things to get list is a short blue Jean denim jacket. Went out to eat over the weekend celebrating my niece graduating for her Master. There sit one of her friend across from me with a denim jacket that I wanted on. I told her beautiful jacket and I love that jacket and wanted to get me one for my Cruise. She gradually pull it off and reached it to me and say you have not because you asked not. Now you got your jacket. I say I know this’s a God Thang. Thank You Lord Jesus! God Be The Glory! ????????????
WOW! That’s a great story. Love it.
Yes God does work in mysterious ways and sometimes funny ways as well. A few weeks ago I was taking a shower and I thought God a nice Gaither Vocal Band song would be nice right now but God with his sense of humor had them play my least favorite Gaither song. A few days later I was taking a shower again and the same song came on again and I laughed and laughed. I know really like that song.
Hahaha, you made me laugh, too. Thanks for sharing.
God works in mysterious ways. Waiting for God to replace our roof. It is old and the insurance company will not cover our house any longer. (We live and Florida and it is soon hurricane season.) Don’t have the cash on hand. We have a rental property that we are waiting for the Lord to provide a buyer so we can fix our home’s. The rental property has a roof not even a year old. I know God has it all figured out. Just waiting to see how he does it!
Oh Loretta, may the right buyer come along soon for the rental property so you can make the repairs you need.
The weather cooling down made me smile. God does answer in His own way!
Agreed!
Well, here I was, wanting to go to Michigan one summer to escape the heat! I didn’t know it hit 90 there as well. I guess I’ll have to keep driving up to Canada, lol!
Oh Leslie, it gets hot in Michigan, too, but it doesn’t last as long as it does down south. lol