Sunday mornings can be stressful. In this season of motherhood, I dread the morning rush and all the potential mishaps and mayhem that can happen along the way (blow-outs, anyone?). Not only that, but there’s the training of my now-teachable-but-still-fidgety child during the worship hour to look forward to.
Training up a child to love the Lord is not easy.
But this morning to ensure that at least ONE part of the day was enjoyably stress-free (and to hopefully not start the day by going all crazy-wife) I rose up early, enjoyed a leisurely coffee, read my Bible, and prepared pancakes for the family.
Still slightly stressed out, I called my husband to the breakfast table. He came and I reached for his hand (our signal to begin praying). He began:
“Father, Thank you so much for this food. Please be with us today as we worship you, and be with our son—let him behave for my wife today, Lord, so that she can focus on you…”
I am absolutely sure he said more, but as for the words, I couldn’t quote them if I tried. My thoughts stopped there. His words made my heart race.
How did he know what was on my heart?
I was struck by how incredibly blessed I am to have such a man. If ever I was grateful to have him, I was then.
Then I was ashamed. My husband had highlighted something I had been neglecting—I hadn’t communicated to God my frustrations and desires in this area. I had never prayed for this myself! When my husband did, it seemed so simple—so obvious. I pray often for wisdom in handling him but so far as specific requests for his behaviour in worship, I hadn’t made any conscious and concerted effort to pray for that on a regular basis.
Why not? Because I was trying to be in control. I had taken this task on with stalwart resolve and I was going to finish it. I was the one who was holding the struggling child, sacrificing my precious worship time and brain space. I would teach that child to stay.
What I had forgotten is that it is the Lord who is in control of the situation at large. He gives me strength, peace, and wisdom—and makes my paths straight. Without Him, I build my house and train my child in vain (Psalm 127:1). He expects me to bring even these seemingly small burdens to Him. All my cares (1 Peter 5:7). My heart’s desires (Romans 10:1). Intentionally. Purposefully. Specifically. Often.
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In a way, I believe the Lord answered our prayer positively today. My 5-month-old didn’t sit through the whole service today, but I was able to concentrate better than I have on many days, and he didn’t disrupt me during the Lord’s Supper as he usually does.
Praying for the Lord to be with us as we worshipped really helped me to have peace this morning as well. I knew that the Lord was in control over the whole situation, and would give me what I needed to make it through.
Lord gives the weary strength, and can do great things through our prayer. This is something I know I need to acknowledge and take advantage of far more often than I do. I need to remember that He cares about the little things—He cares about my little struggles. But I have the responsibility of bringing them to him more often.
He wants to help me, but He also wants me to ask.
My husband reminded me this morning to be more intentional about bringing “my heart’s desire and prayer to God” (Romans 10:1). Because He hears and He cares about the desires of my heart.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14, 15)
With such great promises that bring such surpassing peace and comfort, what is stopping us from having our burdens lifted?
Only ourselves.
“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7)
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What are some things that you have intentionally prayed for? How did you see God working in your life as a result?
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Her Life, His Way 
Thanks Chantelle for this great reminder. I have been trying to train the children to self-entertain, so I can try my best to be focused on the worship service, but now as they get older, I have been struggling to get them out of self-entertainment and learning to be involved in the worship of God, and it has been hard! This is a timely reminder to submit my request to God for His help instead of thinking I can rely on myself to do it. Thank you!
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