I was being careful, tending to my broken foot, my broken body. Hobbling around for weeks. But in a second, weeks of work, days of healing, in one clumsy motion – undone. Ouch! So here I am, laid up in the living-room, icing the fracture and timing when I can take the next dose of pain killers. My body is worn out, my face is puffy and eyes tired.

I feel clumsy and foolish. I need rest. I need healing. I need help.

Lord, God of Israel, You who are most mighty. You who created the world in six days. Who numbers the blades of grass and calls each star by its name. You hear every cricket and cicada chirp, every raindrop fall,  every peal of laughter, every sigh; I know You hear me. You’ve graciously answered my cries before, harken to me and answer now. My bones are vexed and my soul is sore. My thoughts are foggy and my vision dizzy. I want to glorify You, I want to be joyful, I want to be thankful — help me with my unbelief. Give me patience with my children, make me overflow with love and gentleness towards my husband. Give me words to uplift the spirit of the downtrodden and clear eyes to see You. Hasten to pour mercy upon me for Your sake. Be my comfort and my strength that our enemies might be put to shame. In Jesus name I pray to You, knowing that You will answer. Amen.

Sometimes it feels like God takes too long to answer our prayers. Sometimes we wonder if He even heard us in the first place. It can be so easy to lose heart. My work is piling up and my family needs me to be 100%. I’m so sleepy. It occurs to me, I guess I could take a nap right now.  But, it seems so counter-intuitive. I have so much to do so I’m just gonna take a nap. But, then again, Jesus napped (Luke 8:23). “Where is your faith?” He asked (vs. 25).

Sometimes God answers my prayers  through words, sometimes through events, often through immeasurable peace and joy. This time,  He answered by nudging my body to rest.  My toddlers are asleep. My girls occupied with school, overseen by their trustworthy tutor.  I can sleep and that is a gift. That is His answer. So I lay back my chair, elevating my foot and I lean into Christ, confident that He is here now and that He will still be here when I wake. And when I do, and He is, I rejoice. The ache in my foot has dimmed, my eyes and head are clear again and my joy is renewed. I breathe a sigh of relief. I know that this all came from Christ. Knowing I’m not in control, I’m not enough on my own and that I don’t need to be. I am heard and I am loved more than I can understand.