Answered Prayer

My life, especially recently, is full of answered prayer.

I married my husband as an answer to prayer. (The part of me that is home to the “class clown” is saying, “What was I thinking???”) But the reality is that 21 years ago, after a history of failed relationships where I had played chameleon to please the boyfriend du jour, I pleaded with Abba YHVH to guide my love life. I had failed miserably. I couldn't trust my own judgment in this area of my life, that was clear. I needed Him to take over. And He did. I met “Mr. Wonderful” AKA “he who must be tolerated” (depends on which day) just a week after I prayed that prayer. We met in the parking lot of the Christian radio station where I volunteered as a prayer partner. We've been together ever since.

A few months ago, I asked Abba for help during Sukkot / the Feast of Tabernacles. If things worked out as I anticipated, I would be cooking for 300 people for eight days ... and those who had helped me in the past had moved away, one family to Wyoming, another to Arizona. Those of our congregation who would be attending the feast had deterrents to kitchen duty of their own: tiny newborns, farm animals that would require their attention, illnesses, injuries ... It did not look good. But “I lift my eyes to the hills from where my help comes.” (Ps. 121:1) I know my Creator, Redeemer, Bridegroom and Sovereign “did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” (2Tim 1:7) I also kept my concerns to myself, I did not want to face the barrage of questions about how I was going to pull this all off. The truth is, I wasn't going to do anything. YHVH was. And He did.

Early in September, I got an email from someone who offered to leave their home for a month and essentially join herself to my hip and help in whatever way possible. I have had help in the past that got upset when I did not say 'please' and 'thank you' at every request. I'm not mean ... but I do get stressed and I get terse. So, I was a bit skeptical at her very gracious offer. I needed someone I could work with. As Yah would have it, she was not deterred by the tepid response I gave at the time. And so she essentially moved in during the first week in September. We baked banana bread, carrot-pineapple bread; we made carrot juice and meatloaf. We chopped; we diced; we measured and re-calculated. She was wonderful ... and we were doing all things through Messiah who strengthened us. (Phil. 4:13) I was giddy with delight.

On the erev Shabbat / f'day before the feast started, we had another case of 10 pounds of events wedged into a 5 pound bag of a day. The rental RVs for the speakers had to be picked up in Gainesville (45 miles away, thus a 3 hour project) and the grocery truck bearing $7000 worth of groceries was arriving on that same day. Both projects were slated to be handled by the same men. Our Father's sense of timing – and comedy – is impeccable! As the guys who picked up the RVs returned to Lake City they drove past the truck bearing the groceries. They pulled into the driveway at our shul seconds before the truck did. They parked the RVs and then scrambled like ants at a picnic toting hundreds of boxes of food and supplies. Inside, the queens of cuisine checked the items off the list and loaded groceries onto shelves. We went into Shabbat tired, but with a great sense of victory and peace.

And just for the record, all 271 souls who signed up did not show. Although we had cooked for 300, “only” 200 arrived. This means lots of leftovers. I now know a half dozen ways to serve left over meatloaf. Let's hear it for the spaghetti with meat sauce and Tater Tot casserole!

The bottom line seems to be that worrying would have been a huge waste of energy! Abba made sure that I had help, that the food was served hot and on time every day and there was enough to share with the clients of the local soup kitchen ... and the best bonus of all, I emerged without being totally exhausted!! Our Sovereign is good beyond description!! HalleluYah!

So, all I can say is, “Trust Him.” He knows what you need far better than you do and will move heaven and earth to empower you when you seek to do things His way.

May it be for a blessing ...

Shalom b'shem Sar Shalom / Peace in the Name of the Prince of Peace --

Yocheved