• Acknowledgements
  • About My Carpenter Friend

My Carpenter Friend & Me

~ Reflections

My Carpenter Friend & Me

Tag Archives: Unaswered prayer

Five More Minutes

27 Monday Sep 2010

Posted by Dannielle E Carr in Inspiration, Life

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Jesus, Panic, Storms of life, Unaswered prayer, Waiting on God

Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc

I only have a few favourites in life…favourite food: shrimp (although they tell me I’m now allergic); favourite colour: yellow; favourite cartoon-movie: Disney’s Cinderella. I don’t have a favourite actor, book, season, song or perfume. BUT, if you asked me if I had a favourite comic strip, it would be the one above. I think it’s hilarious. I found it while preparing a church bulletin and I have never been able to forget it. It left such an impression on me that while praying with my husband, I almost snickered when he mentioned the Mark 4 account of Jesus being in the boat with his disciples. It was a very heartfelt, worshipful moment and all I could see in my mind were the disciples’ eyes popping out of their heads in pure horror and Jesus asking for five more minutes snooze time. 

{Okay, okay…favourite person: my honey :)} 

I’ve heard people say that “when Jesus is in the boat, you can smile at the storm.” I’m sorry, but that has not been my modus operandi – not for the last year or so anyway. Oftentimes, I look and feel more like the disciples in that comic: wild-eyed, panic stricken, faithless and wondering why in the world Jesus has taken a timeout during my crisis.

I know my dear friend doesn’t actually take a timeout.  I don’t believe he is occasionally “in deep thought, or busy, or travelling…or is sleeping and must be awakened.” (I Kings 18). It only feels that way at times because I want to see results NOW. I want my problems to be taken care of so I can live the life I want to live – you know, the “life more abundantly” kind, minus the problems. Sometimes though, my friend just seems to take much longer than I care to wait on an answer, on a solution.

There is a song I like with one line that basically repeats itself: I don’t mind waiting on the Lord. Duwayne and I recently discussed the fact that waiting on the Lord is not easy and that we actually do mind (shhh). So, we changed the words to I’ll keep on waiting on the Lord; and we sing it heartily, piercing the quiet of our 2 a.m. devotion time as if God (and our neighbours) can’t hear us.

He does hear, though, and I believe he will answer me by satisfying my needs and desires – but in his time. It has been very humbling and surprisingly calming to come to the realization that I am on God’s schedule and at his mercy. In filing complaints with God, outlining my grievances and asking for his intervention over and over and over again, my outlook and approach to what I am experiencing has been changing, however slowly. Though somewhat obvious, I am realizing that he is the only one I can turn to; there is no other judge to whom I can appeal. This is the only system by which I am guaranteed any relief, any good outcome from my world of chaos. So, if I have not yet received an answer, then my only recourse is to wait for the one who can give it, to do so. This is what is humbling.

The understanding that my friend isn’t at all perturbed by my storm is what’s calming, allowing me to sleep in peace at night. Even though I have often responded like the disciples in the comic, deep down I know I don’t have to. Why should I be in a panic if God isn’t? He is as equally in control of my life when things are going well as when they’re not. As my husband pointed out during one of my depressed states, “God’s got this”. He doesn’t fumble the ball; he doesn’t miss the mark; there’s no “Oops, my bad” in his vocab; and he definitely has no need for 5 minutes snooze time. He’s in control, even when the creditors call on a Sunday. (They apparently don’t have a rest day).

But I do, have a rest day that is. My goal, however, is to endeavor to rest every day in the assurance that my problems have been heard and will be addressed. Until then, I will “await the calm,” (right, mummy?) Yes, folks, I’ll keep on waiting on the Lord to say, “Quiet! Be still!” to all this ruckus.

Advertisements

Share This Post

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Welcome!

My name is Dannielle E. Carr and my truest friend is a carpenter. He used to build and repair things made of wood. I'm not sure if he was any good; but, I'd like to think he was because now, he does a great job of building and repairing my life.

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 24 other followers

Advertisements

Blog Posts

  • January 2012 (1)
  • August 2011 (1)
  • April 2011 (1)
  • February 2011 (1)
  • January 2011 (2)
  • December 2010 (1)
  • October 2010 (2)
  • September 2010 (1)
  • August 2010 (1)
  • July 2010 (1)
  • June 2010 (1)
  • May 2010 (2)
  • April 2010 (3)

Cancer Carrots Christ Christianity Diet Dignity Dispelling darkness Do not worry Dreams Faith Faith in God Fears Friendship Fruit God God's love Good advice Good Shepherd Grace Habits Happy New Year Healing Hope Humanity Jeremiah Jesus John 11 Lazarus Life Is Unfair Life Journey Lifestyle Lord Love Marriage New Life New Year Panic Parenting Personhood Prayer Psalm 23 Resolution Resolve Security Self-esteem Still Standing Storms of life Surgery Trials Unanswered Prayer Unaswered prayer Waiting on God Why

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: