I was working in Starbucks last week and (once again) found myself captivated by a conversation unfolding right next to me. I promise I don’t eavesdrop on every conversation at Starbucks, but these ladies were talking super loud and the story was so incredibly sad I couldn’t help BUT listen.
Here’s the story recap:
Niece has terminal cancer.
She is only nine years old.
She’s been given two months to live.
Gut wrenchingly sad.
As I listened to the distraught Aunt tell tale after tale about this little girl’s radiation measures, her chemotherapy treatments and her naturopathic attempts, I couldn’t help but silently pray for this sweet little girl. I can’t imagine battling such a discouraging diagnosis at my age never mind at the tender age of nine.
And that’s when the Aunt said something that totally caught me off guard.
Her friend asked, “So what’s your sister going to do?”
She replied, “I guess the only thing left to do now is pray.”
Wait.
What?
The only thing left to do…
Prayer is a LAST resort?
And that’s when I felt the Lord prompt my own heart. “You do this too.”
If I need spiritual guidance, I turn to my mentors.
If I need family advice, I call my sister.
If I need relational perspective, I call my friends.
If I need a good cry fest, I lean on my husband.
I bet you do it too.
How many of us in dire straight conditions automatically, without thinking, naturally default to prayer as our first move? Be honest. Who or what do you turn to first when the waves of trial come knocking?
Today’s devotional is a simple question that I pray challenges you to shift your default setting, and that question is this:
Is God your first response?
”Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” -Jeremiah 33:3
