by Valerie Bergquam
The third step to follow in our prayer acronym is understood by the letter A #3= Accept: The things you can’t do or be . Result? You will grow in your faith. Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know Him in all your paths, and He will keep your ways straight.”
I’m not suggesting that we should throw away our dreams, or goals, in this topic of accepting! But everyone, at some time or another will have to walk through unpleasant realities that may not go away- in our families, work and relationships. Jochebed had to accept the reality that if her newborn son was to have a chance to live, she wasn’t going to be able to raise him. Can you even imagine her heartbreak over this? She turned to the Lord in her distress, and He gave her a working solution. Jochebed could’nt see into the future, but by entrusting her son completely to God’s care, her faith grew! Moses was granted life, eventually raised as surrogate son to Pharoah’s daughter in the palace. Jochebed’s son was given every privilege in education, wealth, military training- which all prepared Moses to lead his Hebrew people out of slavery! Our trust in God grows, as we learn to lean on Him, release difficult realities to His care, acknowledging He is all-knowing, and the WayMaker!
Do you ever struggle with Accepting who God made you to be, or the family you were born into? Don’t try to be someone you’re not- putting that expectation on yourself. People deal with this pressure alot, which only leads to greater frustration and insecurity. You can start by talking to God about your disappointments, He is all sufficient in our time of need! Thomas Merton, the Trappis monk, summarized it beautifully: “Prayer is an expression of who we are…We are a living incompleteness. We are a gap, an emptiness that calls for fulfillment.” God is waiting to hear your case, promises to sustain you, and speak wisdom into your situation.The Holy Spirit will empower you as you pray and trust Him more!