Forty days of prayer (day 3)

Seemingly everything imaginable has kept me from writing this post this last week!  Everything from my work, to dishes, to laundry, to fatigue and little motivation, not to mention the occasional potty-training mishaps from my sweet Calvin... phew!

But in God's perfect timing- I'm here and I'm ready to share!

Several weeks ago Turner, out of no where,  told me "Mommy, I think Ruthie will be here at Easter."  My reaction to him was something like "I sure hope so buddy..." and  then we moved on to the next activity and went on with our day.

But lately I haven't been able to get that conversation out of my head.  I've been wrestling with thoughts like- Could it be possible?  Is it ok to hope he's right?  Should I encourage him to pray that way- that she would come by Easter? If we pray that she's here by Easter and she isn't- how will I feel?  How will Turner handle it?  Doesn't God say in his Word that we are to ask him and he will give us the desires of our hearts?  Is it ok to pray with a "deadline"?

And here's the big one- the dirty, ugly, faithless thought I've had If I pray that Ruth comes home by Easter, and God doesn't give me what I want- will I still believe He is good?

These thoughts have been swirling around... over and over for days now.  Then God, being rich in mercy and love encouraged me through his Word.  The more I have thought and prayed and read  the more faith He has given me to ask him- to ask Him boldly for something I really want.  He knows me and he knows that I am afraid of disappointment .  However, despite my fear, despite my distrust I believe He wants me to know he loves me and he wants me to TRUST him in new ways:

He wants me to TRUST that He is big enough to comfort me in dissapointment.

 "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4 

He wants me to TRUST that whatever happens, whenever it happens it will be for my good and His Glory.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13       

And He wants me to TRUST Him enough to ask for the SPECIFIC desire of my heart.

Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

So with by the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ- we will pray! Our family will pray these remaining 37 days of Lent that the Lord will bring our daughter home by Easter Sunday!  We would be honored and eternally grateful if you would intercede on our behalf as well.  Would you consider praying for our baby girl's speedy homecoming- perhaps anytime you see a butterfly? 

I can't tell you how much it means to mean to know that just as she is already known by our Heavenly Father she is also already being prayed for by people that love her. To God be all the glory and honor forever, Amen!