are you there god, it’s me
I bet most of you will know what this line is from. I remember reading this book in middle school. Are you there God, it’s me, Margaret. I recently watched the movie version of the book.
Something that I found interesting in the movie is that the middle schooler, who didn’t really know who God was, prayed to Him. They were genuine prayers I believe, or at least she was genuine in what she was asking. She knew there had to be someone or something out there that could help her. I guess she had faith, although she didn’t know in who or what, that there was someone who could help her; in her anxiety, her need for friendship, and in her need to be accepted. She prayed and asked for help. She would say, “Are you there God, it’s me, Margaret?” Then she would ask for what she wanted. It was funny that she prayed for even little things because, I sometimes forget that God is even interested in the little things. We, and I mean me, tend to just pray for the big things. Finances, health, acceptance, reassurance, love, grace, forgiveness and so on. But He wants to be there for it all and He is, so why not just talk to Him about it all?
A few nights ago, I was really craving some popcorn. I have a popcorn popper and it is great. Ten minutes and it’s like it was popped on the stove. My father-in-law makes the best stove top popcorn! I looked in my pantry and couldn’t find the popcorn, which I knew was there. I asked a neighbor if she had any and all she had was the microwave kind. No, there isn’t anything wrong with microwave popcorn, but I wanted the real stuff. I told my daughter I was praying for it to be there, so I looked again. And there it was. I just had to move something out of the way. I told my neighbor what I had done. She sent a laughing emoji and said she has prayed and asked God to open a jar for her! It’s the little things!
Philippians 4:6 (ESV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayers and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. I like The Message Version of this verse. Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
OK so the popcorn was an “in everything” for me. A small and simple thing I wanted and He answered.
When Margaret’s prayers were not answered or were not answered the way she wanted, she quit praying. She got mad and sulky. She was a teenager so I get the sulky! She was so upset and instead of continuing to ask for help, knowing that she may get an answer, she just quit. I am so thankful to know that no matter what I pray, I will get an answer. I know it is not always the answer I want. Hello, do we ever get a yes to everything we ask? No, we don’t. In those moments we have to realize that God will answer according to His will.
1 John 5: 14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.
What are you asking for today? Is it something big? Is it something simple and you don’t think He will care? Fear not, He loves us and wants what is best for us. My grandchildren are a prime example of this. They ask for anything and everything. From the big things to the little things and I do my best to answer yes to them all. However, like anything else, I can’t always answer yes. They don’t understand that but one day they will, just like we don’t always understand why God doesn’t always answer yes to us. All we can do is ask…so ask!
Confident in His love
Isaiah 54:10
