"Recently I directed a three-day silent retreat... I met briefly with each woman and asked her to write on a sheet of paper the one grace that she would most like to receive from the Lord. A married woman...told me she wanted more than anything to actually experience just one time the love of God...
The following morning this woman (whom I'll call Winky) arose before dawn and went for a walk on the beach which was less than fifty yards from our house. Walking along the seashore barefoot, with the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean lapping against her feet and ankles, she noticed some one hundred yards away a teenage boy and a woman fifteen yards behind walking in her direction. In less than a minute the boy had passed by to her left, but the woman made an abrupt ninety-degree turn, walked straight toward Winky, embraced her deeply and kissed her on the cheek. She whispered 'I love you,' and continued on her way. Winky had never seen the woman before. Winky wandered along the beach for another hour before returning to the house. She knocked on my door. When I opened it, she was smiling. 'Our prayer was answered.' "
-Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
Do you ever have a moment in your life when your prayers are answered so obviously that you are just in amazement? Have your prayers ever been answered in an unexpected way?
On Sunday night, I went to a bible study with other graduate students and oddly enough, the conversation was about prayer. I think it's kind of odd that I put off reading the rest of the chapter in The Ragamuffin Gospel until now. I left off right at this story. As I read this powerful story, I was just amazed at how the woman's prayer was answered. Even more so because quite a few of my prayers have been answered in the past two days.
I am writing this on Monday night and editing it Tuesday morning, not my usual routine but I've done it a couple times. I wanted to write in the heat of the moment and I also feel like I am in the writing mood.
God answered my prayers in a big way today and I know he answered my mother's as well. That's because I shared some news with her and she was so excited that she was crying tears of joy. We both shared the excitement since we have both been praying about something in our lives and God answered in a strong way, much like the woman's prayers.
Sometimes you just never know when your prayers will be answered, but when God does answer them, all you can do is stand in awe and amazement.
I also posted on Sunday on my Facebook about my "funk" that I've been in lately. All I've wanted to do is curl up in a ball and sleep all day and all night, not do anything. I think it's a bout with depression. Anyway, I asked for prayers. Yesterday, my prayers were answered and today, I continue to be out of the "funk." I'm feeling better each day and the depression seems to have subsided.
Sometimes you just need to wait, but there is unimaginable power in prayer.
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