What are you waiting for?

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and you rminds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Have you wondered, like I did, what "supplication" means? I've come across the most profound meaning - continuance in earnest. So I am to continue in earnest prayer, making my requests known to God.

The means I'm allowed the opportunity to pour out my heart to Him, over and over again. What's more is that I'm given the assurance that his perfect peace will help me understand whatever answer to prayer I receive.

I was praying specifically for something this weekend. I asked God for an answer on or before our 6th anniversary (February 2). I received my answer. It wasn't yes or no...the answer was "continue to wait." Ordinarily, that would not have been good enough for me. But I knew that God had not only answered my request, but He had also given me such perfect peace to understand now was not HIS time.

Then God gave me Psalm 13. David is crying out to God, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?" (v.1) That's how I felt. As if I was praying and crying out to God, but that He wasn't answering. All the while, I knew He heard. I knew He was listening, but His lack of response somehow translated to me as a lack of interest. And yet, as Psalm 13:5-6 says, "But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me."

Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane is a familiar scene. Mark 14:34, Jesus prays, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorry to the point of death..."

I find comfort in knowing my Savior was so overwhelmed with the literal cross He was given to bear that He could barely find the words to pray. His situation so overcame Him with sorrow, He could not imagine living through it.

Vs. 36, "Abba, Father....everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me."

Everything is possible for God! He CAN remove the trial. Do we have enough faith to be so bold to ask Him to change our circumstances?

He continues..."Yet not what I will, but what you will."

If removing the trial means I miss the greater blessing, if it means not being part of His perfect plan, that I choose His will over mine.

Vs. 39, "Once more He went away and prayed the SAME THING."

It's more than okay to make our requests known to God. In fact, it's necessary. We can and should plead and ask and rest confidently knowing that He hears. It doesn't mean He'll answer the way we want Him too, though. We have to be willing to go to Him and ask for the trial to be removed. We have to have the faith that He can do it. But we also must be prepared for His response that might say, "No, I need you to walk through this. Trust me. I have a plan."

Even if the cross we bear means certain death -whether literal like Christ's or emotional like most of us face - we can rest in knowing His perfect will being accomplished means He will be glorified!

So, I continue to wait and continue in earnest prayer. I'm making my requests known to God.