Have you ever prayed and asked God to answer a prayer you thought was insignificant and not really worth his time? I have, I begged God to deliver me from caffeine. Stupid prayer right?
Let me tell you about someone who prays and asks God to answer his significant prayers first, then I will tell you more about my prayer:
I love this saying my friend Laura’s son, Victor, has said over the years I have known them. “If you’re going to worry why pray? If you’re going to pray why worry?” Now maybe you’re wondering who this man is that can make such a statement. You might be thinking, “He may have a life of luxury or be really talented, rich or brainy?”
This is Victor:
Some of you may remember I wrote about Victor in my book Beauty from Ashes. See those fighting gloves he has on? They are a good representation of Victor, he’s a fighter. He has had to fight for his life over and over again. He has one of the most terrible experiences I have ever heard of.
Prayer – secret, fervent, believing prayer – lies at the root of all personal godliness.  ~ Williams Carey
Vic can’t eat, speak or see. It wasn’t always like that. This was Vic over four years ago:
Victor had a brain tumour removed, and after surgery, he lost his ability to do anything. His parents Jay and Laura gave up their lives of comfort to take care of Victor. Jay quit his job to be Victor’s caregiver. Laura works two jobs to be able to support the family and pay Victor’s medical bills. If there were a set of parents who earned the award for Supermom or Superdad, it’s Jay and Laura.
Victor has learned some sign language, and he is one brilliant guy. He finished his high school diploma from his bed using sign language to communicate all his answers to his school work.
Are you asking yourself why Victor would say, “If you’re going to worry why pray? If you’re going to pray why worry?”
Victor says it because he believes it and he’s lived it. He doesn’t just love God because somehow he has a comfy cozy life. He doesn’t. He lives our worst nightmare EVERY DAY. Victor’s faith has been tested more than anyone I know. He’s had his ups and downs, but he has come back to trusting God over and over again.
He has incredibly generous and loving parents. This week we started a fundraiser for Jazmin, my daughter-in-law who has cancer. We are giving away a vacation to Orlando and two plane ticket to raise money for her cancer treatment.
Laura was the first person to buy tickets, and she sent me a voice mail telling me what a wonderful cause this was, and she wanted to donate the trip back to us to give to someone if she won. Your wondering why? She and Jay can’t go on vacation together. One of them needs to be home to take care of Victor.
The picture I put up there of them standing in front of a boat backdrop was their last vacation as a family over four years. A few months ago they were gifted with a vacation near the ocean, and they had a special wheelchair to be able to push Victor to the beach. He loves the ocean! It rained the whole week they were on vacation except for one afternoon. How do you think Victor and his family felt about that holiday?
Laura read my book that week since it was rainy. We messaged back and forth, and she encouraged me by telling me she couldn’t believe the life I survived. Imagine her encouraging me!
Jay and Laura became legal guardians of Victor and Martin about five years ago. They rescued them from a pretty bad situation. They had one son Andrew and a life filled with coming and going, vacations, dinners out and time with friends and family.
Every freedom they once had is now gone.
Yet they pray. Jay and Laura plead with God to heal their son, so far the answer has been. “Not yet.”
Sometimes I have deep thoughts on why God would answer small prayers and not answer more critical prayers like Jay and Laura’s.
For the past three weeks, I have been dead tired and I mean DEAD. I dragged myself out of bed each day only to return to bed a few hours later, then I wanted to sleep again in the afternoon. I just could not for the life of me muster up any energy or spark of enthusiasm to do anything.
Little did I know God was answering one of my prayers…secretly.
Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees. ~ Corrie Ten Boom
I have been trying to get off caffeine for years. But every time I tried to wean off I felt terrible and couldn’t get through the three week withdrawal period. I have prayed many times asking God to take this addiction from me. But I never did get an answer till now.
Last week my daughter Charity asked me if I wanted to meet her at one of our favourite restaurants Vibe Eatery, for breakfast and to blog together. We are both bloggers. Charity is a holistic nutritionist. Check out her cool blog here: Eatreal4life.
I was so tired I almost said no. Driving to the restaurant, I thought I might fall asleep at the wheel, but I made it there. I ordered oatmeal and a coffee, and within an hour I was beginning to perk up.
After lunch, I stopped and got a Starbucks coffee before I went to my friends Lila’s for our ladies Bible study. I am delighted I went. One of the ladies asked for prayer for something she needed to be answered urgently, and by the time we were done Bible study and praying she got an email saying her prayer was answered!
I was feeling really energetic by the time we left Lila’s.
Yesterday I went to grab a bag of coffee off the shelf in the pantry, and something caught my eye, the bag said decaffeinated coffee. I had bought four bags of it, and this was our last one. I had recently switched to organic coffee but didn’t realize I had bought decaf.
About two days ago I finally had started to feel like a human being again. Imagine my excitement when I realized I was now caffeine free! My prayers had been answered without me even knowing. No wonder I felt good after Vibe coffee and Starbucks.
So are you wondering what I am wondering? Why would God even care about someone praying and asking to get off caffeine when there are people like Victor begging God every day to rescue them from their illness?
I pleaded with God for years to heal my son Kyle from severe autism but God kept saying “No,” and he and I had many arguments and standoffs. Have you ever see a western movie where two cowboys are ready to duel, and they have their twitchy hands on their guns ready to be the quickest to draw and kill? That was God and me except I was the only one with a gun. I had it drawn and was saying, “Heal my son or else!”
God had grand plans for Kyle’s life. I just didn’t know it at the time. I have a book and blog because of Kyle’s suffering and people have been touched by his life and his ministry. His plight has ministered to many people.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” -Psalm 91: 14-15
God answered many of our prayers for Kyle. He is now stable, and his quality of life has improved tremendously. He still has autism, and we are okay with that. I stopped taking my gun out after Victor’s story touched my life and changed my bitter heart. Without Victor’s faith, I wouldn’t have written a book.
I still pray for Victor that he will get his miracle, that he will leave the prison he lives in, and be free again. God cares, he sees, he still heals today. It’s okay to ask God why? It’s alright to wonder why he gives out answers to prayers that seem silly and other times seems silent as the grave when people are suffering.
He is God.
He sees the big picture and is intertwining people’s lives to change events and touch the hearts of a nation through those who may seem insignificant to others but are precious treasures to God.
You may have questioned God for years, and that’s alright, he has big shoulders and can handle it. But keep banging on heaven’s doors with your prayers.
“Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping.”
– Psalm 39:12a NIV
Victor, Jazmin and Kyle are waiting for their miracles, and we know they will get them whether on this earth or in heaven.
We still pray and hope.
Do not lose hope that God will answer you whether your requests are significant or small, today may be the day you finally get your answer.
If God cares about a silly caffeine addiction, he cares much much more about your tears and prayers💗
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4: 6-7
