Why We Pray
About 6 weeks ago, the 1st or 2nd week of May, Renee and I decided to plan a family vacation to the beach. We researched and scoured the Internet for places to stay and things to do and finally decided to stay at a hotel directly on the beach. We got a great deal on our room price, but it had to be paid up front and was non-refundable. After careful consideration we went for it. The very next week we heard about the oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. As the media grabbed the story and ran with it, our trip seemed to be doomed weeks before we would even be leaving. We began to worry and started thinking about changing our plans. As we were sitting at supper one evening we were talking about all these worries and the possibilities of going someplace else besides the beach. But we really wanted to go to the beach! We decided then and there to pray about the whole situation. I was a little reluctant to pray about it because I felt as if it were a selfish prayer, but God was ready to show me something about being in touch with Him. We prayed at supper that evening. We prayed over the people that are being affected by the oil spill, that there would be minimal impact on the beaches and the waters that are being threatened, and that God’s will be done through the situation.
I know my prayer didn’t change God’s mind about what would take place. Everything happens according to His plans. But staying in touch with God will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding. That’s just what we received as an answer to our prayer that evening. We gained a feeling of peace about our beach vacation despite all of the bad news the media continued to report.
Just last week we spent 3 wonderful days of vacation on an unaffected, non-stained, beautiful beach. The water was great. We enjoyed sunbathing, snorkeling, boogie boarding on the waves, and just relaxing on the beach. The day we got back home we heard reports that tar-balls had begun washing ashore at the very beach we stayed. Some may say that we were just lucky, or that it was just a coincidence that we happened to miss the effects of the oil spill. Maybe they are right. But, I honestly believe that if we were not supposed to be there for whatever reason, God would not have given us a peace about going there. Even if the oil slick itself washed ashore during a category 5 hurricane, I believe God had a purpose for us to be there. I realize this because of prayer.
What I learned from this experience is God is there for us. God is there for you too! No matter what the situation is, pray. Communicate with God. Stay in touch with God. You are not going to change His plans or change His mind, but He does answer the prayers of His faithful children.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New International Version)
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
