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Photo via flickr ©Sophia.Maria |
Living with unanswered prayer is a hard thing. Sometimes it feels like it will break you. When it feels like it's nearly breaking me, I turn to the ultimates again. On that subject, a poem:
On "unanswered" prayer
and forfeiting the world
to gain a soul
I once heard about a man
whose carpet was worn
bare
in two spots beside a window
Two bare spots
from hours
and days
and months
and years-
a lifetime
on his knees.
There are no bare spots on the floor of my house
but tell me-
do You see
how I'm wearing
thin
a spot on my soul?
I kneel there
morning
evening
and night
in prayer and petition,
longing and expecting
waiting
for You to respond.
You do not answer
in the way that I wish
Your silence
begins to exhaust my plea
I want to know when
and how and why
but instead of those answers,
these:
Take heart
and loose the world
for already have You overcome
and this, You say,
this is how I gain my soul.
That spot on my soul-
is not growing bare,
like carpet under knees-
the wearing tearing under prayers
becoming not thin but deep.
Now, from there I cry-
hope renewed-
The depth of me
to the depth of You.
~
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33
"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" - Mark 8:36
"Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers have swept over me. " Palm 42:7
::big hugs::
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I found your blog through a long time friend...or divine intervention...I should say. I am in the middle of a long adoption process from China. It seems never ending...but the reward at the end is worth every second. This post really spoke to me today...especially after taking a WHOLE day off of work just to do paperwork and tie up loose ends...only to feel like I am spinning my wheels and continue to go nowhere! I know that God has a plan for me and my family...but the "why" question...why have you chosen me for this...this route to motherhood...continues to pop up from time-to-time. I had a long talk with God today...and this post was apparently the answer I got today. I am just glad other people (like you) understand and have paved a path for me when I feel lost amongst the paperwork and phone calls! God Bless and thanks!
ReplyDeleteJulie congratulations on you adoption journey! I'm so excited for you. I totally know what you mean about how it seems never ending. Thanking God for using my story to encourage you! Thank you for leaving a comment and blessings to you as you make your way to your child! I hope your little one is home VERY soon!
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