Growing Flowers through the Sidewalk

When prayer seems futile

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

One of the most difficult things about following Christ is understanding how prayer really works.

Oversimplified, it looks like this:

I desire something

I pray and ask God for that something

God replies with “yes,” “no” or “wait.”

But, often we fail to realize all that happens within our hearts in between the petition and the answer.

Last week, I learned that a friend’s daughter was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Aggressive. Incurable Life-stealing.

According to medical science, this young woman would be gone by year’s end.

My immediate and continued response since I heard this tragic news has been to pray for a complete recovery.

Non-believers might see my actions as tantamount to dropping seeds in sidewalk cracks.

• There’s no soil to cover the seeds.

• No place for them to take root,

• No source of nourishment for them.

• No earthly reason for their hard coverings to soften and life to spring forth.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things unseen.

We serve a God of miracles.

• When there was no way out for the Israelites, Jehovah parted the Red Sea.

• With just five loaves and two fish, the Lord fed more than 5,000 followers.

• On a gloriously triumphant morning, Jesus rose from the grave.

So why not scatter seeds over sidewalk cracks?

• Let hope be the soil that blankets your prayers.

• Meditate on His miracles and let the reality of His power take root in your soul.

• Let worship nourish and replenish your faith as you draw near to God.

• Ask others to join you in prayer—storm the gates of Heaven to break those seeds open!

In the end, if what you requested doesn’t come to pass, take heart, dear friend.

The Lord will see you through and as time goes on, you will realize that though prayer did not change your circumstances, it forever changed you.

You grew closer to Jesus as He led you through the valley.

You learned that His thoughts are higher than yours and His ways past finding out.

Beyond all of this and most importantly, Beloved, you’ll trust and lean into Him even more as you embrace the knowledge that His plans are always for your good.

Pray and keep an eye on the sidewalk, but take a look in the mirror too.

You’ll see that you’re becoming more like Jesus.