Recently my family got back from a trip to the mountains. While we were there, we rode our side-by-side through the mountain passes. This trip was a little anxiety provoking.  My truck and my side-by-side are both over ten years old, and just before we left, they were having some mechanical problems.  I did my best to fix as many as I could, but due to time restraints, I couldn’t get to everything. So before we left and while we were gone, I prayed multiple times that God would be with us and watch over the vehicles while we are gone.

On the way, my truck blew a hose and wouldn’t go over 15 miles an hour.  We limped to a parts store and bought the last hose they had for my truck. In 45 minutes, we had it fixed and were back on the road. While we were in the mountains, our side-by-side did great. When we came home, as I was pulling it off the trailer, my CV joints went out, and the next day my tires were flat and the gas tank got a big tear in it.  Currently it is in my shop disassembled and getting repaired.

Some would say, “Wow, you got lucky.”  However, I don’t believe in luck. I believe that God let my truck break down beside the right parts store, and He held my vehicles together the whole time we were gone.  Then, He let them fall apart when we got home.

This got me to thinking about God and how prayer works. I know that God is God and that whatever He wants to do, He will do.  Sometimes it seems like the things I pray for are small and not that consequential to God.  Does He really care about how my vacation goes or how many breakdowns we have in the workday?  Are there things that we pray for that are too small or too much about me?  I would say absolutely not.  The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 to, “Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

So here is why we should pray for even the small things.  In James 5:16 it says to, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  So even in our small prayers, much is accomplished.  Does this mean that everything we ask for we will get? Yes and no. If we ask for something, and it is His will, then it will be done.  Whatever works best in your life and for the Kingdom will be accomplished. If we ask for peace and being in His purpose, then yes this will always be answered.  So if God does whatever He does, then what does prayer avail to?

When He Says Yes
When He says ‘yes’ to our prayers, then we get to see first-hand that He shows up and that He is there for us. It is like a confidence booster. It seems to me that when I am at my lowest is when I notice Him showing up in what I think are small things. When I left for vacation, I was down about not seeing His plan clearly.  When I was on my way home from vacation, I was overwhelmed by the feeling that He would show up even in the small things.  So even though the prayer seemed small and inconsequential, it was important to help build my trust in Him.

When He Says No
When He says ‘no’ to my prayers, I get to practice believing that He is in control even when things don’t turn out the way I want them to. I have the opportunity to ask for and live in His peace even when everything around me is going crazy. Here is what I have learned about the ‘no.’  If I wait long enough, I almost always see His perfect plan on that ‘no.’  I either see why what I was asking for wasn’t the best thing for me, or I see how He used the situation to make me a better servant.

So when you ask if you should pray for the little things, I say, “Yes.”  Prayer accomplishes much in my life. It helps me to see where God is in my life and that He is real and shows up.  Prayer also helps me to have His peace and purpose when things don’t turn out the way I want. So, pray early, and pray often.  And in all things, give thanks.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
– Matthew 10:29-31

– Written by Jeremiah

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