I Think Tim Tebow Still Believes!

by leighgray | January 10, 2012 1:08 am

Hannah Stovall is a beautiful friend that I hope to meet some day.  I love her courageous heart and her drive to exalt the Lord.  I know you will enjoy the wisdom from this young girl!!!  Wise beyond her years – and that is no joke!!  Thank you Hannah for posting here!!

“Our prayers have been answered.”

Funny, isn’t it, that we usually only hear that when people have gotten what they asked for—when they, at the end of all their praying and pleading, are pleased with the result?

I was flipping through my journal recently and came across a page where I had put three requests before the Lord. Not as a Christmas list. Not as an ultimatum. Simply as a request. He’s our Father and wants good things for us. He tells us to ask and He’ll give.

And so I asked. One for something school-related. One for a friend. One for my hopelessly romantic heart.

Two of those I’ve been given. One of those I have not. All three have been answered.

He’s our Father and wants good things for us. He tells us to ask and He’ll give. But He alone knows, infinitely above what we can, what is best.

Sometimes His answer is yes.

Sometimes it isn’t.

Either way, we get an answer.

Our God who desires for us to boldly approach Him with our needs and our wants will not leave us without a reply. We just have to trust Him enough to, with faith and gratitude, accept His answer as divinely best.

There’s been noticeable craze surrounding the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback, Tim Tebow. It’s been enough to get this baseball and NASCAR only girl to actually tune into an NFL game. That might be, in large part, due to his boyish good looks, but that’s irrelevant. Grin. All media platforms have exploded with feedback—both criticism and praise—on Tebow’s prayers and faith being the driving force behind the Broncos’ won games.

I’m not a sports expert or a theologian, but there’s a flaw in that theory. I’m not questioning the power of prayer or Tim’s mad skills (I wouldn’t dare do either. Wink.), but I’ve heard a few of his pre- and mid-game prayers. He’s not praying for a win. He’s praying for a chance to honor God whether they win the game or lose it. We all know they’ve done both.

A Broncos’ wining streak isn’t proof of authentic faith. A lost game isn’t reason to doubt the power of God. The answered prayer is evident in the Lord-honoring, humble attitude exhibited regardless of the final lights on a scoreboard.

Jesus himself even pleaded in the garden, “If there’s a way, let this cup pass from me.” But there was no other way.

I have to believe that’s true for us, and with God’s sovereignty and boundless grace, His is the only way I want.

Maybe the healing you’ve been asking for a loved one comes in unexpected ways. Scripture tells us that in Heaven, there will be no more pain.

Maybe you didn’t meet the guy everyone’s been telling you about. Maybe you really didn’t need to.

Maybe the job your husband thought he’d get fell through, but now the dream God’s given him is something there’s actually time to pursue.

Our prayers always get answered. There’s a heavenly purpose behind every “yes” and every “no”. What a sweet joy would fill us if our response to every answer were gratitude. On occasion, disappointment, naturally, but always gratitude and trust at the heart of it.

Are you asking anything big of your Father? He can do it, you know. Don’t let uncertainty or fear of His answer stop you from approaching.

He’s anxiously waiting.

Go boldly.

Go ask.

I will lift up my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Psalm 5:3

[1]

Source URL: http://leighgray.com/2012/01/i-think-tim-tebow-still-believes/