Prayers for our children

The last few days have been filled with phone calls and emails and messages from friends who have asked for prayer for their children. Seriously, it has been a large number of friends who have reached out to us. For different reasons and different concerns, but all with the same heart. A heart that is hurting for a child. A heart that cannot offer the answers right this second. A heart that knows where the answers are.


Danny and I have been praying specifically for one of our children the last few days too. Isn't that just like God? We do not have answers but we are holding on to the One who does. And while we are trying to figure it out, He is giving us the privilege of lifting our friends children to Him too. What a humbling reminder that He alone is our Hope.


As I pray for these precious children, my own included, I am reminded that He is able to do for us so much more than we can think or imagine. I was looking back at my journals and realized that on this day two years ago I was praying for one of my daughters whose heart was breaking. She had received news that she thought was devastating. A decision that none of us saw coming. A blow that she felt defined her.


As I read my words and my heart pouring out on the page, I could feel all of the emotions all over again. But this time I had the hindsight to see the Hope. I read what I had prayed for and what I had asked for my daughter. I was struck by my limited understanding. What God did with all of that is far more abundant than what I had prayed for. He worked it all out for every one's good. All of it. Even the stuff that hurt. Even the things that didn't turn out the way she had planned. Even the decisions that she still doesn't understand. It is all good. And she is blessed because of it all.


So today my prayers for my sweet friends and for myself are prayers of expectation. I have been praying Ephesians 3:20. I looked up lots of different translations of that verse. They all say that God is able. He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Immeasurably more than we imagine. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask. He is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams. He is able to do more than we could request in our wildest dreams.


I think I will hold on to that Hope. His Word says so. He promises. I am choosing to believe Him.

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro 

throughout the earth that He may 

strongly support those whose 

heart is completely His.

 2 Chronicles 16:9