PRACTICAL PARENTING â—½ HOME
When You Don't Know
by Marcy Lytle
Sometimes, we think we know exactly what to pray for our kids – for good friends, excellent teachers, protection, and a relationship with God that’s real – all good and perfect things to pray. However, it isn’t long before we don’t really know what to pray because we don’t know what’s best! And then we spend our wheels begging, pleading, crying and worrying and fretting over the sad but true fact – we just don’t know what to pray!
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When she’s deciding which class to take, what sport to choose, and she’s too busy already but you want the best – you can pray and ask God for wisdom. If you hear an answer clearly that brings peace, walk in that. If no answer is given, choose what you think is best and rest. Paths can always be changed…
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When he’s worried that he will have no friends and he’s anxious about the way he’s performing on the field and you’re wondering if he should have ever joined the team – you can pray and ask God to speak. To him. Our children can hear from God, too. And while we speak the truth of who they are, love them the way Jesus loves us, He can clearly answer our prayers directly to them. It’s amazing to see.​
When finances are low, you’ve prayed for a raise, your car is a mess, and you’ve begged and you’ve pleaded but no funds are falling – you can pray for provision. Provision doesn’t always look like what we think it does in the way of raises and funds. But he does provide. So wait for the provision in peace, and look for His hand in the little things as you wait.
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When your kids are stumbling, making bad choices and pushing you away, and it hurts to your core because you wanted so much more – you can pray for encounters. The real change that happens with our kids is when they encounter His love on their own. And God is always pursuing them with goodness and mercy, whether we can see it or not. Pray and ask, then place them in His hands.
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When the whole family seems tired, stressed, stretched and is arguing, and you’re ready to run but you know that’s not the answer – you can pray for order. God is the best at creating order out of chaos, just read the Creation story again. One thing at a time he may put his finger on, and we can listen and see and obey what He says as we find that rest is available when He’s at the wheel.
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Wisdom, His voice, provision, encounters, and order. Those are five simple things that are yours, as ones that believe in His mercy, grace and love. These things he freely gives, without our begging and demanding. We can ask, and receive. We can come to him weary and worn, and He will give us rest. And we don’t have to say the right words, pray the correct amount of time, or be perfect before we come.
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It’s not easy to just ask simply and rest. That’s why whispers fly in the dark, thoughts swirl in the rain, and words tumble in the storm. But practicing the art of simple prayers with sighs of relief as we get up and live, turns into a life of peace that endures.