… will fix it for you

Over the last couple of weeks there have been family and friends that our prayers would certainly have been asking to ‘fix, repair, solve…’

My mother-in-law was admitted quickly via A&E this week because of water on the heart and lungs….my Father suffered dizzy spells hopefully just because of an inner ear infection and a good friends father has also suffered a stroke that has debilitated his speech sand movement. Prayers were quickly submitted that the wisdom of those that could fix and repair the problem did so and that those that we hold dear know the peace that transcends panic.

So today started with an amazing friend praying on my behalf, for a fix of a kind. It made me wonder when we ask for things to be repaired what our expectations are.

Do we hope that the situation will return to the same as before? Or that the outcome will be improved from before? Either way what is that the best option?

Our human nature of course wants a lack of change, for things to be as they were before – if nothing else, to give us time to reassess and change what needs changing. But do we? Isn’t it the unexpected that makes us reassess quickly what is out of character from the normal?

So is a quick fix or repair the best we should ask for? Within a changing situation does God not give us the chance to evaluate? Ask for forgiveness? Seek His voice and wisdom and do we always take that path?

Generally I think we simply want things to return to the status quo, as it was before. However, often the ‘as they were before’ can be man-made rather than God-made. When will we seek and listen?

So I’m sure my friend who advised ‘fixing’ meant well, in fact it was an was urge to seek God for the right decision. And seeking God is of course the right path.

Biblically there are many instances where individuals call out to God to fix, repair and answer the prayer that they are seeking.

The story of Lazarus is one where Jesus is sought to bring life back to the dead, with Sarah and Abraham God is trusted to eventually deliver a child to elderly parents and there are many more instances of miracles to repair and fix sight, mobility, convulsions, mistakes and so on…

But for Lazarus, Jesus did it in His own time, no rushing with blue lights flashing because if it is within God’s plan it WILL happen. Prayers will be answered even if they are whispered deeply and silently within our soul.

So we should pray for repair within God’s wisdom and timetable. Perhaps what we should also pray for is how God can use us to support others where change needs to happen and where wisdom needs to be sought.