"I have heard your prayer"

Why was I so sad? Despite the beautiful weather and having the woods all to myself, the leaf-covered ground and barren trees above became a metaphor for where I am in life.

You see, it’s Autumn, and there’s only one more season left for me. (For those of you who aren’t following the thought, I feel old with death waiting in the wings.) Smiley face.

Wanting to enjoy the weather and the day, I told the Lord what I was feeling and told Him my desire to shake the feeling. Alas, it stuck around for a while, as I questioned whether my life has any meaning and whether anything I do really makes a difference.

You know what I’m talking about: Woe is me stuff.

But then it happened. As I shuffled through the woods like a whiny toddler, a giant gust of wind hurled leaves whizzing past my head like bullets.

Now smiling, I tried to catch a leaf. Missed.

Let’s try that again. Darn it.

One more try. Got it!

I laughed out loud and celebrated as if I had just caught a long pass for a touchdown. So I trotted down the dirt path and did it again, again and again. And each time I was able to catch one of nature’s bullets I celebrated with a loud whoop and a laugh.

Ironically, I was still acting like a toddler. Only instead of whining I was playing. For the record, I like the latter better. I think the Lord does as well.

And so, in just a matter of minutes, my heavenly Father had changed Autumn’s metaphor regarding my life. I went from “Holy cow my life is almost over” to “I’ve still got some gas in the tank.”

So, what’s bothering you today? While I can’t and won’t guarantee that the Lord will answer your prayer and answer it quickly, I’ve seen it happen. In fact, it happened just this morning. To me. And it was cool.

Why not give it a try? Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, you’ll find yourself running through the woods, laughing like a little kid.

Trust me, it’s a wonderful feeling.

“I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.”1

1  2 Kings 20:5