Panic 'n Prayer

I can’t reach my sister or brother-in-law. They are on a vacation in western Canada. I was supposed to be with them but it didn’t work out. Now I can’t “find” them on my phone, they are not answering my texts or phone calls. I will be a bit unsettled until I hear from them and know all is well.
On the other hand, my friend, and brother-in-Christ, who is also on my “Find My” app, arrived safely home today from a long trip where I have the privilege and honor of watching his travels and praying for him along his journey. Now he, and his sweet wife, will pray for me tomorrow as I take on a new task which I am a bit anxious about.
In the meantime, my professional trucker nephew is about to head out to his job which will keep him on the road overnight.
I’ve prayed for my friend, and I’ve prayed for my sister and brother-in-law, and my nephew. I confess though, that always when I pray these kinds of prayers, my heart longs to know from them in some tangible way that they are okay. Is that longing indicative of fear? Is it mistrust? Is it lack of faith? Some might say it’s a combination of all three.
I prefer to believe that the low-grade, panicky feeling I have when I pray for traveling friends and family, is the fear of the Lord, my trust being tested, and my faith in them extended as we all depend on our Father to protect us and give us peace. Why do I say this? Because none of it stops us from living the abundant life that Jesus has blessed us with. My friend still rides thousands of miles every year on his motorcycle. My family still have fabulous vacation adventures. My nephew still performs flawlessly as a professional trucker. And me? I will still take on my new task tomorrow and hope for the very best as a gift from God.
Prayer need not have human expectations placed upon it. The very nature of prayer is supernatural. We diminish it when we expect it will be this way or that according to our finite understanding of what God has ordained for us when we pray. Prayer encompasses every longing, every emotion, every burden, and every joy.
Here is where I add, prayer encompasses every awestruck moment. Why? Because as I wrote that last paragraph, my phone rang, and it was my sister telling me about the adventure of their awe-inspiring day in western Canada (which, incidentally, included over 100 kilometers with neither gas station or wifi coverage). Her expression of God’s goodness as she talked to me was a powerful prayer of thanksgiving and awesome reverence.
Prayer is more than just something we do. Prayer is an integral part of who we are in every situation, every minute, all day long.
Prayer covers it all. That is why God’s will for us is in Christ Jesus is that we would pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). In every situation, every minute, all day long.
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