Written by my wife, Jen...
Yesterday, our dog Blue ran away. Jay was helping us get in the car amidst serious preschooler meltdown and I left the garage door open. Blue was off in search of adventure in no time. As Jay and I chased him down the alley (toward a busy Kingshighway), I knew the situation was bad. We were no match for his speed and he was not taking any breaks.
As I ran back to the garage I begged God for mercy. Story was bawling. “Girls, we need to help Daddy rescue Blue. We’ll drive while he runs.” I realized we might be driving to a scene that could traumatize our sensitive little 3 year old’s heart. “Let’s pray. We need Jesus to help Blue.” We begged God to help Blue stop running. For him to not run onto Kingshighway. For Daddy to catch him. Simple. Earnest. Desperate. Need.
He stopped. Unaccountably. Suddenly. Right as we prayed. One house short of Kingshighway he turned into someone’s yard. Walked right into Jay’s arms. Jay had almost decided to turn around and walk the other way rather than watch disaster happen.
We rejoiced and thanked Jesus profusely. Tears turned to laughter. As the close call was recalled throughout the day, I reminded Story how Jesus answered our prayers and rescued Blue. I knew I needed to enter in more myself, let it reach my own heart, but I didn’t want to take the risk. Risk believing what I was telling Story – that Jesus really cares about our little dog (Really? Have You heard his bark, Lord?!) and our little family and our little daily dramas. I acknowledged his rescue in my head and embraced the “teaching moment” as a parent.
But this morning as I took up my study of Paul Miller’s A Praying Life (ironic, right?), I couldn’t focus. I sensed the Lord saying, Just sit in it, Jen. Let your heart receive my involvement in your real life. Much easier to read a book on prayer than accept a tangible intervention on our behalf, an answered prayer. Concepts feel so much safer than real relationship with a God who acts in the world, in my world. Especially one I can’t control or predict outcomes, just cry out for mercy from His hand. But today, by the grace of God, I opened my heart. I believe; help my unbelief.
