When God Answers Prayer...

So I’ve been in a constant battle with my weight for over half my life. I’m sure you know and probably fight this battle as well. For me, I simply pretend there’s no problem until I’m suddenly unable to comfortably fit into my clothes. Well this summer I had to face the music. 
It was bad. I had TWO large plastic containers of clothes that were perfectly fine in quality, some even brand new, but were too small to fit my body. Just shameful. SO....I did whatever a woman of faith with a little motivation (but still lacks willpower) would do. I bowed my head and said, “Lord, my weight is out of control...put me on a diet!” No joke. Straight and to the point. Nothing wrong with that, right?!?!? Of course not! Why, however, did it surprise me when God answered?!?!?!? 
All of a sudden: 
  • My drive thru order of Large fries would barely be filled to the top...
  • Appetizers and extra sides I ordered would be forgotten by the waiter at sit down restaurants...
  • I attempted to bake cornbread to compliment dinner I prepared one night and a SPIDER proceeded to crawl out of the box...dinner ruined...
  • I burnt cakes I had baked multiple times before...
  • I dropped a whole plate of brownies I attempted to eat by myself on the floor...
Just a few examples. God was literally knocking food out of my hand. Hey.... I got what I asked for right????
Why is that? Why is it that we ask God for things and are surprised when He answers? My guess? It’s how He answers. The obvious solution to us is completely different from God’s. Isaiah 55:8-9 says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I’ve learned it applies to every situation. 
My fondest memory of that verse was when I took my Grandma to the doctor when I was 19. I was complaining of all the things that were and were not happening in my life. Not understanding why things were the way they were. She recited this verse verbatim. Now....Grandma and I are 70 years apart in age. So at the time, I concluded that she just didn’t understand what I was going through. Ten years later, after some hard life lessons, I’ve come to embrace this verse. Not being where I felt I should be in life. From small things like weight to life changing things concerning my love life or my career. The things I asked Him to fix or to help me with haven’t turned out the ways I’ve wanted. It’s not the way I would have taken. For someone that likes control and likes to have a plan, that’s a horrible feeling. I’ve had to learn to trust that God. Remember that He sees the big picture, and in most cases, you tend to trust someone who knows the whole story. 

This is not to discourage you in asking God to help or step in and change things that seem out of your control. Just know sometimes the things we ask will bring experiences and changes we “think” we didn’t ask for. It’s okay though. The amazing thing about God is that through it all, He miraculously creates someone who is stronger, wiser, and in the end more grateful and more connected to Him than ever before. Seems impossible, but I can truly tell you for me, it’s more true each day. 

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