As the parents of six kids, we sometimes found it difficult to appreciate their cleverness or cuteness at the time. That’s why we captured some of those special moments to enjoy later.
We have hours of videos filled with birthdays, Christmases, dance recitals, cross country meets, Boy Scouts, marching band competitions, etc. But my favorites are the funny scenes.
One in particular comes to mind. Our youngest was maybe two years old when out of nowhere she started telling us a story, acting it out as she went along.
The hero of the story, named “ Guy,” was apparently battling the forces of evil. There wasn’t much of a plot to this action adventure. But every time one would expect Guy to “say” something, he’d merely strike a dramatic pose.
So the story consisted of her excitedly explaining, “Then said Guy! . . .”and suddenly she’d jump into a new, complex fighting stance. We tried to interact, asking what happened next, encouraging her to keep going. (We assumed this good “Guy” won.) And while her narrative omitted a few details, her hilarious acting was irresistible!
Although lacking the vocabulary needed to fully convey her thoughts, she wasn’t afraid to express herself. Between her words and actions, we got the gist of the story because we knew her and loved her.And more than the story itself, we appreciated her trusting us to understand.
It’s the same between us and our Father. God delights in His children sharing with Him ideas, disappointments, hurts, and dreams, however muddled or raw. He already knows our thoughts (Psalm 139:2), but wants to hear them anyway because He loves us and desires relationship.
David understood this. He arguably knew God’s heart better than anyone else in that era (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22)—especially how much God loved him. That’s why he gratefully declared in Psalm 66:19-20:
But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me.
God knows we’re limited by our human bodies and this fallen world. So He listens intently when we share our hearts, reading between the lines of our one-sided narratives, hoping to lead us beyond our interpretation of events.
Even when David began a psalm in anger or fear, he often ended in praise! David gained a new perspective because he knew God heard him—and he was willing to consider God’s viewpoint, not merely his own.
If we, like David, pour out our hearts to God, but then pause to reflect on His nature and focus on His goodness, He will show us what we need to see and reveal new ways of approaching our circumstances.
Prayer opens the door to changing our thinking. Because God recognizes our limited understanding —but also sees the end from the beginning—He’ll often reassure us that circumstances aren’t as dire as we imagine. He’ll encourage us to trust Him, to rest in His love, and to take hold of the grace He offers. We can always trust God not only to understand but also to help us.
