April Yada Prayer Reflection

Firm in His Faithfulness and Steadfast in His love is our God

Did you also lift up Psalm 89:1-2 with me in prayer this month? Did you also find praise and worship songs rising up in you, repeatedly? Here are just some of the songs that sprung up, many from my childhood:

And did God also stir memories in you, in Amen’ing this Word? And did anything unfold that also had you celebrating the firmness of God’s faithfulness and His steadfast love?

I was so blessed to have two friends share news that brought me such joy. What they shared were things we had prayed for. One revealed answers from so long ago, another from more recently. But both were precious evidence of Psalm 89:1-2.

I think sometimes our prayers are answered quickly and stunningly. But at other times, the answers can unfold over a very long time, often in hidden, almost imperceptible ways. It can involve repeated, (at first) deeply painful and (then) beautifully freeing surrenders, as our hearts expand to receive God’s wide, long, high and deep love. Until one day, light breaks forth, miraculously and stunningly, when we least expect it.

And sometimes the fullness of God’s answer doesn’t come until we have gone home to be with Jesus - as it did for Saint Stephen. He got to watch Saul’s (Saint Paul’s) radical conversion from heaven, and our continuing conversions, as fruit of that conversion. And those answers came after being stoned to death at Saul’s command, and him crying out for God not to count Saul’s actions against him.

It reminds me of that verse (1 Corinthians 3:7 NRSVCE):

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

And it reminded me of these tulips I had forgotten about, that I planted two years ago:

Even as I forgot about those bulbs I planted 2 years ago, God didn’t. He brought the increase: again!

And He hasn’t forgotten your countless, even decade-long prayers either, prayers He gave you. Prayers He has been lifting up through you and been praying with you. And when your heart’s been too beaten and bruised and left by the wayside to open your mouth, He’s been busy praying for you.

He doesn’t ever leave or forget us in our weakness, nor the souls He’s written upon our hearts in prayer. He draws near to cleanse, balm, bind and bandage our wounds, which are in fact: His wounds. He tenderly picks us up and carries us, close to His heart, restoring us to health through the merciful touch of His Body. And then, He calls us to go and do likewise.

Praise God, His faithfulness is firm. And His love is steadfast. Praise Him!