IT NEVER OCCURRED TO GOD!
Matthew 6:7-8 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Has it ever occurred to you that it has never occurred to God? Think about that! God has never been surprised by our calamities, tragedies, problems, failures, disturbances or even our sins. He is omniscient, which means He knows all things even before they happen. You and I can see reality only within our little view of the timeline: a narrow slice of the “right now” that swiftly disappears from our memories as it fades into the past and another slice of reality replaces it in the now.
God does not see time in that way. He sees it from the beginning until the end and what’s even more amazing, He sees it with complete understanding. Think about that, again! When you and I pray, sharing our needs is not the important part of the praying experience. It is the turning to God for His involvement in our lives that pleases the Father. He already knows about it all. What He really wants is for you and me to turn to Him to walk through every experience with Him holding our hand.
Years ago, within the church I was pastoring, I had a little elderly lady whom I dearly loved and yet, she was just a little on the gossipy side. She was the one who would come to me with every little slight that occurred within the church and share that with the pastor in a conspiratorial manner. Sometimes, it was just a little overwhelming to me. I decided to have a little fun at Mrs. Ruth’s expense. Sunday morning came and I waited at the opposite end of the Sunday School hall for Mrs. Ruth to appear at the door at the other end. I knew that hall would be packed with people visiting one last moment before going into their Sunday School classes. So when I saw Mrs. Ruth appear down at the end of the hallway, I yelled over the heads of everyone who turned to look at me first and then turned to look at Mrs. Ruth. “Mrs. Ruth, Mrs. Ruth!” I yelled. People turned. When I could see that Mrs. Ruth was straining to see above the crowd and hear me, I yelled even louder. “Mrs. Ruth, I’ve heard all about it! I will talk to you later!!!” At which point, I turned and fled through the door behind and spent the next hour of Sunday School time hiding in the bathroom chuckling as Mrs. Ruth searched high and low to find out what it was that I had discovered before she could do so.
Trust me on this. You will never discover anything before God knows about it. Pray with confidence that our Father already has a plan in place and all He wants you to do is trust Him enough to turn to Him and put your hand safely within His. Remember, it’s okay to share anything with God, even if He already knows!