The Prayer I Didn't Realize God Answered
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A Song That Brought It All Back
A few weeks ago at church, we were singing “I Will Not Be Shaken.”
It’s one of those songs where the guys sing one line, and the women sing the next.
And right in the middle of it, I had one of those moments where a memory just hits you out of nowhere.
Same song. Same feeling.
But a completely different season of life.
Back to College Me
All of a sudden, I was back more than 20 years, standing in a crowded room at James Madison University during a Campus Crusade for Christ gathering.
I wasn’t a Christian yet, but there was something different about the people who attended these meetings.
Most of my friends at the time weren’t believers, and if I’m being honest, they weren’t exactly leading me in a great direction either.
But these people?
There was just something about them.
So I kept showing up to Campus Crusade for Christ. And it was huge, like a couple of hundred college students packed into a room.
And I remember the first time I heard that song.
But what stuck with me wasn’t just the music.
It was the guys.
I had heard guys sing in church before, but usually it was the worship leader or someone on stage.
This was different.
There were so many of them, just standing there, singing like they meant it.
And I remember thinking that I didn’t even realize that there were that many guys who loved God like that.
And right there, in that moment, I prayed:
God, I want to marry someone like that.
Someone who loves You.
Someone who isn’t afraid to sing to You.
Someone who means it.
What Happened Next
Life didn’t instantly turn into some perfect story after that.
There were many years in between. I became a Christian sometime that year, and I had a lot of growing to do.
But then a few years later, I met a guy.
He was actually the lead singer in a band.
We started going to church together.
He joined a Bible study.
And eventually, he gave his life to Christ.
We got married.
And over time, he became a worship leader at our church.
Now, almost every Sunday, I can hear him singing to God with his whole heart.
The Prayer I Forgot
Here’s what really got me that Sunday a few weeks ago while we were singing:
I had completely forgotten that I ever prayed that prayer.
Completely.
It only took a few years for God to answer it…but it took me over 20 years to even notice!!!
Practical Encouragement
I don’t think I’m the only one who does this.
We pray for things when we’re in a certain season. When we really feel the need for it.
And then life moves on.
And we forget what we even asked for in the first place.
Meanwhile, God has been answering that prayer, and we’re just living in it like it’s normal.
We tend to focus on what we’re still waiting on.
But what if we paused long enough to notice what’s already been done?
Next Step
This week, take a few minutes and think back.
What did you use to pray for?
Not what you’re praying now, but what you prayed years ago.
Maybe when your kids were little.
Maybe before you were married.
Maybe when you were in a hard season.
Write down whatever comes to mind.
Then look at your life now.
You might realize God answered something years ago, and you just didn’t notice until now.
If you’ve never written your prayers down, today is a really good time to start.
Nothing fancy, just a notebook where you can jot things down.
Because apparently, it’s very possible to forget something you once prayed with your whole heart. (ha!)
Further Reading
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp- A good reminder to notice what God is already doing.
The Happiness Project One-Sentence Journal for Mothers by Gretchin Rubin is my favorite place to write down the boring everyday things that turn out to be really important years down the road. I've been doing this daily for over 10 years!
A Full Circle Moment
Since originally writing this blog post, I ended up back in that same room on the JMU campus. This time, I was watching my son receive an award. And I was in that room with the husband I had prayed for 20 years ago!!
