Dear bookkeeper, I lost my credit card, my debit card, and my driver's license. I also lost a receipt." However, I found the credit card, debit card, and driver's license. Still no receipt."
Along with these items, I lost something else of greater value, or rather it slipped off the finger and wasn't noticed. It was a stressful weak to think that losing them would cost me money, time, and the hassle of replacing them. To say the least, the embarrassment I would face when in told the finance committee.
In the face of these losses, what are we to do? Search every nook and cranny for sure, and that was done twice, if not ten times. I could start the process of replacement, but what if I found them the next day? I held off. Pray? Of course, prayer, and we all do it. In our frustration and desperation, we cry out to God for help, but do we really? Is it really a prayer for divine intervention, or is it like talking to Porthos, "come on, boy, help me find it." A response isn't expected. I think the reason is that we don't believe our situation is of value to God. Why would he care about something so insignificant in the grand scheme of things? I don't think God cares about the ring or the credit cards, but he does care about me. I'm His son, and I might put too much value in bling, but I'm still his child. What parent wouldn't bend over backward for their child? As a Pastor, I know all of this, have counseled and preached this, but I often don't practice it. In an altruistic fashion, I should let God take care of the more significant problems of life.
When I think that way, I reduce God to look like me. I make him small and impotent. But God is none of those, he is enormous, and I'm talking about out of this world big. He is everywhere at all times. God is all-powerful, and nothing can stand in his way or thwart his plans. He knows everything, and nothing is hidden from him. I believe this about God, so, in both situations, I prayed. But the question is, "what do I pray?" I simply prayed, "Father, open my eyes to see what I have lost." Not fancy, but to the point.
That night I was vacuuming the living room, where we are every night. There it was, in plain sight, the ring that had been lost and is now found. Rebecca and I rejoiced greatly. That left the credit cards and driver's license to find. After the first experience, I went straight to prayer. "Father, open my eyes so I can see." I retraced my steps and even looked in places I had never been to. I began to lose hope that they would be found.
On the way out of the house yesterday morning, I decided to look under the couch one more time. They weren't there, but I did see the corner of something under the side table. You are right; it was my cards.
Prayer is a mystery that God desires for his children. It is for our sake that he asks us to pray. God doesn't need to interact with us but wants to, and when we go to him, he delights in seeing us smile. Our Father relishes the moment our eyes light up, and we see the object that once was lost but now is found. It gives us a glimpse into the heart of God for his willfully lost children ("Adam, where are you?"), yet sought us and adopted us into his family ("I have come to seek and save the lost," -Jesus-).
Prayer is a mystery. These experiences remind me that though I might want to give up, my Heavenly Father never will… I'm just praying.
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