Spring fever

 Mommas, I am not going to lie. Days, weeks, months have been rough for my crew recently. 

Car trouble. Accidents. Expenses. Sickness. Anxiety. Unmet expectations. 

We are all seated together in this dry space begging for showers of blessing and then sweet sunshine. 

Today I had a moment where I received an answer to prayer that I had forgotten I had prayed.It wasn't a prayer for a child or anyone else in my family. It was unrelated to all of our issues that have been dragging us down into that underground space. It was a very simple prayer for a client. It wasn't even a prayer that they come to Jesus (although I am STILL praying for that!). It was very simple. I will not share the specifics of that prayer, but God answered in a way that gave me great joy in seeing it unfold.

We often get consumed in life with all of the negative things we are facing. If we believe in God, we pray very hard about these matters. If we trust Jesus, we pray repetetively that His will be done (and many times that His will is the same as ours!). 

But it is the little prayers that often end up blessing us when we least expect it. 

As my girls are older and praying for specific needs, they sometimes get answers they do not like or the ones where there seems to be silence. My job as a mom is to encourage them to keep praying, keep trusting. It's hard on this end to see them struggle. I want to fix it for them. Often all I can do is pray. 

One triplet has struggled with test taking. On a regular basis as she runs out the door for school she shouts the same thing. "I love you mom. Pray for my test today."

Sometimes she gets that B. Sometimes she fails. She has NEVER ever said to me, "I thought you prayed for me. It didn't work."

I think she doesn't say that because she knows it would not be true. She is maturing in her faith. All four of the girls have had growing pains spiritually. Some have experienced more than others. For example, I prayed for an extra special season for one daughter at an extra special time of her life. That season has not quite been ideal. It has been filled with disappointmets and set backs. Today as I prayed for her next season of life, a bitter voice reminded me what has happened the last time I prayed - and that it could surely happen again.

I reminded that chump in my head that my daughter has grown through that season -- in ways she has not even seen yet. She is maturing. And in my head I gave the author of that voice a karate kick in the face. 

So what does all of this have to do with these little unexpected prayers?

Right now it is a pretty unseasonably warm February. It really reminds me of spring. Oh, how it makes me long for spring! I am waiting...And this little tease gives us all spring fever.

When we are sitting in a valley waiting for answers for the big things, we find such an appreciation for the little. I found joy today in that answered prayer. Had God answered my bigger prayers first -- this one may have seemed miniscule and less important. It's like spring fever. 

We mature as we wait in that dry spot God has placed us in. He provides just enough sunlight to give us the growth we need. When the only rain that comes is an unwanted, less than plentiful storm, he doesn't let us break. Our roots are running deep. We are firmly planted when we are waiting. . God throws us a few streams of light after the latest storm...and we rejoice as the sun is just peeking out of a cloud. We are thankful for any light. We are grateful He has shown Himself at work. We know that in time the bigger, brighter light will come. That rainbow will shine after the showers of blessing.

For now we sit here and take in the beauty that is normally subtle. One bloom on our stem is better than nothing. This, friends, is where joy in trials starts to make sense. Every spring I get so excited when that first little bud appears on my tulips. Before it even opens, I am thankful. I know it will open. And when it closes, I know it will return next season. God is faithful like that.

My new prayer today is that in my husband's daily struggles, in my four daughters' daily struggles, they will see answers to prayers they forgot about. The hubs and I are well into our 40s and we are maturing still. I am rejoicing in this season. We are growing -- all of us -- together.