Joyful Ruins

Matthew 25:14-30

I was truly convicted this morning by this passage as I prayed.

A businessman gives three different men, three different amounts of money. Two of them return to him having doubled their money and are counted faithful. The third feared him and fearfully buried the money, doing nothing to increase it and he was thrown out.

This hit home in my heart on a day many months ago. I needed to take my car (which was having engine trouble) to a shop and wrestled between confidence that it would make it there safely and doubt that it would.

I am oftentimes good at praying, but not letting go after I pray. I will ask, even believe, but I will also hold onto the outcome just in case things go south.

Of course, there is an element of faith in my praying or believing at all, but ultimately I lack trust in God’s sovereignty and provision.

Like the third man in the parable, I know God does not always answer our prayers in the way we wish, so in a sense, I fearfully bury the prayer in the ground, holding on to it to make sure it will not be a disappointment to me. I won’t let go because I am preparing myself for the worst.

Imagine doing this to your earthly parent or trusted friend; to receive their help, but prepare from them to fail you. That is not a healthy relationship and how much more will our Heavenly Father give to us what we ask.

I know I am a doubter. I know I need to trust God fully, not half-way. From the parable, I know God rewards risk takers. I pray that God would help me let go of fear and caution when it comes to my walk with Him.