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If I Trusted My Teenager, Surely I Can Trust God
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Pocket Full of Quarters Trek 2012
If I Trusted My Teenager, Surely I Can Trust God
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matt 18:19 KJV
When my teenaged son said where he was going and what time he was going to be home, I believed him. Yes, he mostly kept his promises, but he was not perfect and he was after all, a 16-year-old boy. Why did I believe him? I believed him because I had faith in him. I also believe that my faith in him was part of the reason he worked so hard to keep his promises.
Someone recently told me that God responds to faith, not needs. I’ve been praying about that statement and confessing my worries. Did I have more faith in a 16-year-old boy than I did God?
This week, God gave me an object lesson. This week, I spent some time with a delightful committed Christian who had spent her life serving God and the church.
As we talked, she began sharing her financial difficulties. The situation was so bleak that she was worried about things like light bills, food, and gas money. A customer for their small business was months past due with a $20,000 payment and it was devastating her business and personal finances.
My automatic response was to go into “businesswoman” mode. I confirmed that they had delivered the promised product, had correctly billed the customer, and had followed up. They had done all of that and still couldn’t collect the money.
I remembered God’s promise that if two agreed in prayer, it would be done. Nervous but committed to believing God, I led her in a commanding prayer that the money was going to be released and was already headed their way.
When we finished, she shook her head, sighed woefully, and said something like, “Don’t feel badly if it doesn’t come. Maybe God is just wanting to teach me something.”
I thought about all of the times I’d prayed a scripture and immediately made an excuse for why God wasn’t going to keep his promise. I knew we both needed to respond with faith that we had agreed in prayer and the prayer would be answered.
“No!” I said firmly. “Don’t undo what we just prayed. We claimed the scripture and agreed in prayer. We are going to pray again and this time, believe what we pray!”
“I receive that,” she said. We prayed again. We claimed God’s promise that it would be done.
Is anyone surprised that the $20,000 check arrived 3 days later? As good as my son’s promises were, they certainly are not as reliable as the promises of God and I am determined to start living like it.
Would you agree in prayer that many will be led to Christ on the 2012 Pocket Full of Change Missionary Journey? Would you join our prayer team and agree with us in prayer for the needs of the people we meet along the journey? Join our Prayer Team
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