Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:24
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So let me give you the time line here first:
Sent out my camera equipment on Aug 4. Got e-notification that they received it on the 6th. At that time I already had 2 clients waiting on me for their photo shoots, and countless family moments and life happenings that I instinctively began to retrieve a camera. By the 10th, I had 5 clients lined up, and more instances where I couldn’t take photos. It’s not that I expected my equipment back by THEN already. But I was realizing how hard it was. And how much harder it was going to get….and I wondered how long it WAS going to be, anyway. The stress was building, and I don’t like stress in my life. My clients understood, and have been perfectly willing to wait for a ‘Go’ from me, bless their patient hearts. But I….in my day to day life with no camera to use, have been less than patient. My kids were growing! ; ) There were moments I wanted to capture for our keepsake of memories. I had stuff I wanted to photograph and blog about! I was just….antsy about it, to say the least.
In the interim of those days, it occurred to me to pray on it. But you know……I had a long list of specific people/families I have been praying for, who have REAL problems. 2 children who are fighting cancer. A family who has just lost their husband/father. Many people struggling with poor health, or broken hearts. The list is a long one.
So I was hesitant to bring my petty prayer to God. But I couldn’t help remembering all of the sermons…all of the written pieces….all of the scripture….that tells us….bring ALL of your needs before God. There is no prayer too small. Too silly. God can heal the terminally ill, heal a broken heart, move a mountain….even raise the dead if He so chooses. Sometimes, He so chooses to say yes to prayers. Sometimes, it seems He says no, or that our prayers go unheard. Unanswered. He hears….He answers….it’s just not always the answer we wanted. Sometimes, He has greater plans that must take place, for the greater good of us, or others. There IS reason in all He decides. I believe that, as painful and difficult as it is to accept and understand sometimes, when people’s hearts are hurting so much. But there is never too much on His plate. We cannot even fathom His powers, and all He can do AT ONCE….big and small, just like that.
So I put my little prayer before Him, in the form of this blog letter. It was a real and sincere prayer that you read, despite my sprinkles of humor. It was from my heart, straight to Him. Knowing, He knows, I struggle with asking for little things, amidst this joyful and blessed life I lead. Knowing, He knows how little patience I have, and that He could very well take this opportunity to let me practice getting some. ; ) lol. But I did it anyway.
That letter was typed/prayer was said, on the morning of August 10th. The very next morning (yesterday, as I type), I received e-notification that Canon had logged my equipment into the system, and were looking at it, and it could be 7-10 business days <choke> before it was sent back out. “Well, it was a silly…..even selfish…thing to ask for……” I thought, with some sense of shame, as I thought of the many families in real pain and struggle to get through each day. But then, of course, so selfishly, the thoughts drifted back to ME >> I was up to 7 booked clients (all understanding and patient, unlike myself at times) for photo sessions now. <sigh>
But just one more morning later, that would be THIS morning, August 12, at 8:31 a.m., I get another e-notification that Canon has serviced and shipped out my equipment. Well……I cannot tell you how LOVED I felt by Him in that moment. Nor the JOY I felt, as I lept around the house with glee. It got there in 2 days……I knew I could make it 2 days home, back into my hot little hands.
But no….He loves me MORE than that. Less than 3 hours later, at 11:14 a.m., FedEx pulled into my drive-way. A kind-faced woman walked up my driveway, up the steps onto my deck, up to my door, and handed me a box. It was, my camera equipment.
I have 2 things to say to this:
1) GOD IS SO GOOD!
2) LET’S ROCK ‘N ROLL!!!!
I’m so glad you had your prayers answered with a yes!
YEA!