Author: Catrina Christensen
As the last day of school is approaching, I am reminded of a moment with my daughter, Nora, on the first day of school. God used a simple moment to remind me that he is near and that he cares deeply for us. His kindness extends beyond our big needs and situations to the small and seemingly insignificant things as well.
2023 was a hard year for our family. Throughout the year God used the people in our lives to help support, pray for and encourage us. One piece of encouragement that really stuck with me was to rely on prayer and not just that, but to pray for things that are within God’s will and then watch for how God works. I’ll be honest, as someone who likes to be in control, turning to prayer in uncertain times was not my first instinct. I would prefer to DO something or fix it in my own power.
In our circumstance, it was made clear to me that there was nothing I could do and turning to prayer was my only option. I began doing my best to be super intentional about praying for specific things (including things that seem small and insignificant) and then being alert to see and acknowledge how God was answering those prayers. Being watchful and acknowledging God working was really a transformative idea for me. I realized that previously, I was so busy ‘doing life’ that I had missed seeing God working. While on this new journey, at times, it felt like God was working too slowly. Other times the answer he gave was not at all what I was thinking when I prayed the prayer, but I was still seeing his faithfulness at work and learning to trust his ways and not my own. There were also times when he answered quickly and the answer was even better than I had imagined.
One of those instances happened on the first day of school. Nora had been feeling anxious at the thought of school. Her stomach felt upset and she just wasn’t her normal self. This is not uncommon for her since it takes her a little bit of time to adjust to new routines. Normally, I would have just tried to comfort her and let her know that it would all be okay, but on that day I felt prompted to stop and pray about it with her.
We prayed that God would give her courage and confidence and prayed specifically that he would bring a friend along for her in her class. The prayer was quick and then we grabbed our things and headed out the door to walk to school. When we were almost to the building a little girl and her brother were walking up too. The little girl looked right at Nora, smiled, and said "Hi Nora want to come walk with us?". Turns out it was Piper, a girl in Nora's class. Nora's demeanor instantly changed. I could tell she was still nervous, but she smiled and I could sense more confidence knowing she had a friend to wait in line with.
I am not one to get emotional, but wow! I was just so amazed that God had answered our quick prayer for something that seemed small and insignificant so quickly. I was able to talk to Nora after school and celebrate with her about how God had answered our prayer! It was such a helpful moment in my life and God also used it to show Nora his faithfulness and kindness. God is just so awesome.
Matthew 6:25-26 sums it up so nicely: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
As children of God we are highly valued, loved and cared for. We can (and should) take our worries and troubles to the Lord and be confident and rejoice in the fact that he will be faithful in EVERY situation whether big or "small".
