An Unexpected Answer

It happened several years ago on a dark, rainy Saturday night.

Lightning was flashing and thunder was booming.

Abby and I stood on our front porch and watched the rain come pouring down, pelting the streets and streaming down from the overflowing gutters. The air was cool and smelled like the storm we were in the midst of. And as we stood there watching the raindrops pounding the ground, we wondered together what the end of the world would be like.

After all, it seemed like the end of the world was nearing. I don't have problems with depression, but with the never-ending rain that blotted out the street lights, the chill in the air, the abandoned streets...well, it WAS rather dismal. With the chilliness of the air came the chilliness of the questions we asked each other, questions to which neither of us had any answers.

I don't remember now the exact words we spoke, but I think our discussion had something to do with God's justice and the tribulation. Questions, questions, questions, but no answers. I think God would have given us the answers through the Bible, or maybe Mom and Dad, had we searched. But we had no time. It was Saturday evening and we had to get to bed. 

In the end, though, God gave us the answers through something completely unexpected.

As you might have guessed *smile*, the next morning was Sunday. At first it seemed like an ordinary day at church. But then our pastor told the congregation that he was going to take two weeks off from preaching in Hebrews and go to a different passage of Scripture. I certainly didn't mind.

In our church, we stand to read the passage of Scripture that Pastor would be speaking on that day. So we stood as Pastor Bob read aloud. I didn't hear anything even remotely shocking.

It wasn't until about five minutes into his sermon that I realized with a jolt that God was speaking through Pastor directly to ME.

As I said before, I don't remember now the exact questions I had been asking myself and Abby about the end times. But what I do remember is that Pastor Bob unknowingly addressed every single question Abby and I had asked each other, and explained very thoroughly the answers to these questions according to the Scripture.

I was stunned.

I kept looking over at Abby to see if she was catching all this. I never caught her gaze, but later she told me that she had been trying to get my attention to see if I had realized just what Pastor was preaching about. As if I could have missed it!!!

God knows what we need before we ask Him.

I have to wonder how many things I would have already received if I would only have asked. God delights in giving to us...but so many times we miss out because we simply overlook the "asking" part.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7, ESV)

Our Heavenly Father loves to give us good things, just like an earthly father delights in showering his little ones with presents. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that we'll get whatever we ask for. That is why my siblings and I have been taught to say, "Lord, if it is YOUR will." Because if it's NOT God's will, then I don't want to be a part of it!

Just before I came on here to finish this post up, I was reading a book called FireStorm, and one of the main characters prayed the following words: "I believe--and I will always believe, no matter what happens--that the eye of my storm will always be smack in the middle of your hand. And there's no place I'd rather be."

I LOVE that. The eye of my storm will always be smack in the middle of my Father's capable, loving hands. And there is truly no place that I, Kaitlyn M. Bergen, would rather be. Lately I have seen over and over again how inadequate I am, but thankfully that bit of knowledge has come right alongside the assurance that for every weakness of mine, God has more than enough strength to carry me through. 

Anyway, that got a little off-subject. Back to asking and receiving, though... James 1 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be giving to him." Well, later on James says this: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."

Often when I do remember to ask, it's for the wrong things. God, hurt her since she hurt me! Lord, I'd REALLY like this present for Christmas! God, I want things to go MY way today. Please, don't let Mom call me for help just yet...I want to finish my book first!

My pleasure. My will.

And somehow God loves us! How?

He loved me enough to send me answers, even though I didn't ask for them, even though I didn't pray, even though I didn't cast my cares upon Him. Still, He heard me and blessed me through the way He chose to reveal the answers.

But I'll tell you one thing. Next time I need to call on Him, this will be a reminder to me NOT to hesitate. My loving, all-knowing Creator delights in giving to His children, and if we ask Him to reveal His word to us, He will! Although let me tell you...His answer may not come in a way you'd expect! 

For me it sure didn't!