When you want your prayers answered now
Do you ever feel like Veruca Salt? Sure patience is a virtue, but I imagine we can all relate to the spoiled brat who shouted at Willy Wonka,
I want it and I want it now!
As I look down the road of my present circumstance, it stretches long before me and no matter how things turn out it’s all uphill without an exit in sight. If I could change it I would, but
I can’t.
If it were up to me, I would slam on the brakes, get out of the vehicle, change directions and leave this crash course I’m living. But,
it’s not up to me.
Some days I sing Veruca’s song
I want a party with roomfuls of laughter, Ten thousand tons of ice cream, And if I don’t get the things I am after,
I’m going to screeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEAM.
I may or may not have given in the urge to scream a few times, but
it never did any good.
Some days I even pray like Veruca
I want a flying glass elevator; I want a golden goose; give me that pen; I want to be first; get me one of those squirrels; I want one!
Only it’s not a glass elevator, golden goose, squirrel or a pen. But,
my desires to please myself are the same.
I want what I want and I want it now. Honestly, I still want to scream. Instead God says WAIT.
Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” NLT
He says TRUST
Psalm 118, “It is better to trust in the Lord than put confidence in man.” NKJV
He says SUBMIT
Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” NIV
Straight paths aren’t really what I’m worried about; it’s the rough terrain that’s killing me. Peace always comes when I settle into the ride, put my feet on the dashboard and let God navigate. I may even lean my head back and close my eyes while He steers. After all, He knows where we are going and how to get there and I trust He really does know best.
SETTLING FOR LESS THAN GOD’S BEST
Veruca’s parents indulged her every whim because they valued her happiness above her well-being. Ultimately, she was destroyed because she got what she wanted. I don’t want to be Veruca.
Maybe unanswered prayers are God's way of withholding harm rather than good #Godknowsbest #prayer #trust Click To TweetBesides, as Willy Wonka said,
I thought a veruca was a type of wart you got on the bottom of your foot
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a wart, so I choose to be satisfied with what I have, surrender to God’s best plan for my life and follow hard after Him. I want what He wants and I want to go where He goes. He knows the way and He is the way..
Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” ESV
You are teaching me so much on this journey.. It is so hard for me to let go of the steering wheel. May the LORD strengthen you as you are sharing your journey.
Walking the road of suffering together strengthens me. That’s precisely why I share
“Peace always comes when I settle into the ride, put my feet on the dashboard and let God navigate. ”
I need to do just that. Thank you for sharing your heart and God’s word.
Easier said than done though. I write it hold myself accountable
Sit back, feet up
, open the window and turn the radio on to praise music.
We can relate to the rough terrain. Jerrry and I have been through for rough terrains for many years, As the years brought so nany tears, pain and physical changes that wrecked our life. But it was the 2nd year of my husband broken body the LORD God introduced us to His Son Jesus Christ. Gratefully and mercifully we were saved and became part of God’s family. The terrain is still rough but neither of us would change how God has used it. Now Someone carries us when it is more difficult than we can handle. Through it all God has NEVER let us down. He truly is the reason we can face tomorrow. Praise His Holy Name. Sorry for the book
Beautiful, beautiful words. Praise God you found him through suffering. It really is the only way to know the heart of Christ
You are such a good example your words touch my heart every time we have learned many lessons from your walk with God thanks for sharing your heart
Thanks mom for not letting me be Veruca
I was so disgusted with Veruca until I just now saw myself in her. Very ugly. Thanks for being an instrument of Light on another sin that I’ve tried to justify.
If only compound W worked
Love this post… okay, I love ALL of your posts…they are always an encouragement and keep me on the right track… joy, gratitude, utmost faith in God’s perfection!
You are always such an encouragement to me!!
I too lean on the everlasting arms of my Savior every moment of every day. I know in my head and heart all the right words Jesus tells me – trust, love, lean, stay strong, rest and the list goes on. Recently others tell me ‘just forget it’. How do you forget 20+ years of memories at the snap of your fingers. Forget the hurt, the lies, the deceit – it takes time…. you can’t hurry the mending process. How I wish I could just wake up one day and truly be ok and it not just be the answer to people’s question of ‘how are you?’ They don’t want the truth- they can’t handle the truth!! Do we forget the pain and suffering Christ went through for us – I remember His love and know He has a reason for my journey.
Wow, I needed to hear these words because I am living every one of them. Whenever I know someone is suffering, I cringe when I ask, “How are you?” And of course, the answer is always, “Fine.”
Such great encouragement – and a reminder that God’s will and timing in my life are always what’s best for me. What a sad state I know I would be in if God answered every prayer in the way and at the time I wanted it! Thankful that He knows best, and that He chooses to grow my faith and draw me closer to Him through the trials He brings into my life.
So true!
Oh, I get that unsure feeling of the uneven road. And sometimes I think that I am more prepared on the uneven road for the hard things, but it’s is sometimes the straight path that takes me by surprise because I am not expecting anything. It is supposed to be easier. 🙂
I just told a friend that I believe God answers all our prayers, He just doesn’t always answer them in the affirmative. And it is the times when he moves in our our behalf, the ones that we don’t expect that make his love even more amazing to me.
Blessings,
Danw
Beautifully, beautifully said