"Why not, God?"

Psalm 33:11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The LORD has richly blessed me with an amazing circle of women whom I pray with each Thursday morning. We always focus on an attribute of God to begin our prayer time. Today our prayer leader chose the attribute -- He is Sovereign. Praise God! He is always so timely and He gives me just what I need when I need it!

Many times we can pray for something really, really hard... and sometimes we don't get what we want. We don't have our prayers answered in the way we want them to be answered.  And then cry out, "Why not, God?"  When our prayers are not answered in the way we desire, we can be very, very discouraged, disappointed, and perplexed. 

That recently happened to me. I would love to tell you that I am at such a point in my journey with the LORD that when events don't go my way, I peacefully accept it as God's will and calmly trust the LORD and moved on. But it didn't happen that way!  When I didn't get my prayer answered my way, I had a day of fitful despair and frustration. I hope you can smile with me at my visual description of myself being a like two-year old child, throwing a tantrum like two-year old's do, and God still patiently holding me, with His arms outstretched, while I kicked and yelled "I want it my way!"  Then, when I was done, He once again patiently and lovingly brought me close to Him, held me tight, and He reminded me in only the way that He can... He is sovereign. He reminded me that His ways are not my ways, His thoughts are not my thoughts. God was still carrying me. And He gave me, once again, the incredible peace of His undeniable Presence.

Even though I didn't get the answer that I was hoping and praying for, He reminded me His will has not changed...  He wants to save the lost, bring people to Him, tell the nations about Him, and have us love our neighbor as ourselves. And after my little tantrum, He takes my hand, whispers that He loves me, and tells me, "Okay, Donna, let's go, there is still so much to do. I want you to show them Jesus and tell them about Me. Now, come dear child, let's get back to work!" 
  
Dear Heavenly Father, When things don't go our way, when we don't understand, I praise You that we can know that You are sovereign. I thank You that Your ways are not our ways, and Your thoughts are not our thoughts. Thank You LORD, that You love me. That sweet knowledge and truth is truly all that I need. Amen.