{Here’s to hoping this picture does not cause too much anxiety or angina for those viewing…tehehe}
Have you ever run into a situation where you didn’t know how to pray? In Matthew 6, while instructing the disciples on prayer, Jesus expresses that “your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8). What a beautiful truth! While we are called to cast our cares and anxieties on him (1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6-7), God knows what our future holds and knows what we need, even when we don’t. This is especially comforting when our reality is worse than what we fear. I’m reminded of a humorous (in hindsight) example from my own life.
Back in January of 2020, I moved to Pittsburgh to continue graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh. I lived away from home previously, but this was my first time living alone. I remember hoping that I wouldn’t encounter bugs or mice at my apartment, as I was horrified at the thought of having to deal with either alone. Long story short, within a few weeks of moving in, I saw a rat creep out from under my couch and walk across my living room floor. A RAT. Here I was praying against bugs and mice… Rats weren’t even on my fear radar.
But God knew what I needed and generously gave me grace to make it through, one day at a time. My landlord was understanding and responsive, church members from my brand new Pittsburgh church came over to help me dispose of rodents once caught, friends and family provided encouragement, and in the end, my dad rodent-proofed my entire apartment like only he could.
Among many things, I learned how to fight fear, how to ask for help from near strangers, and how to dispose of unwanted rodents. Experiencing God’s care in something as small as a rat problem helped me to seek and trust the Lord in other more high stakes areas such as relational challenges and placing offers on houses. I will keep rats on my list of “things I hope to avoid in future homes,” but I know there are a million other items I don’t know to pray against.
Instead of becoming fearful and anxious of the future and the unknown, I want to trust in a God who is with me always (Matthew 28:20, Isaiah 41:10), holds the world in his hands (Job 12:9-10, Psalm 95:3-5, Isaiah 40:12), has numbered my days (Job 14:5-7), and promises new mercies every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). He knows what I need before I even ask.
