A sweet woman taking a group through The Sacred Echo DVD Bible Study recently emailed me. She’d never led a Bible study before, and this was a big step for her.
The woman asked me to pray that she didn’t disappoint or fail or look ridiculous and fumble over her words.
I said, “No! I refuse to pray for any of those things.”
“I will only pray the opposite of everything you’ve asked for,” I continued.
I prayed she would make colorful mistakes and stumble and fumble along the way. I prayed she’d find herself struggling and have at least one unforgettable “Oopsies!” moment.
I begged the Lord that in every gaffe and slip up, she’d find herself leaning into God all the more.
I asked that in such moments, she’d learn to laugh hard and radiate joy. I prayed she’d rediscover the timeless truth that as children of God, we all glow in the dark. God’s robustness is proclaimed in our frailty.
Instead of being a leader wrapped in perfection, I prayed she would be clothed in with grace, humility, and love. And in the process, she’d be WONDERSTRUCK by the goodness and faithfulness of God.
I prayed she’d realize her job isn’t to have all the answers but to give a hearty embrace to those asking the toughest questions of life. I prayed she would never forget that among the greatest things she could ever give those she leads are the joyful truths of Christ, abundant gifts of kindness, Holy Spirit-infused prayers, and the hearty embrace of a listening ear.
I don’t know if I’ll ever hear from her again.
Or if she’ll ever forgive me for such a prayer.
But sometimes in order to experience the wonders of God in greater measure, we need to pray the opposite of what people ask.
*Original photo found here
We want to introduce you to seven DVD Bible studies that small groups, Bible studies, and Sunday School classes around the country have been using to grow in their faith, knowledge of the Bible, and love of God. Email jessica@margaretfeinberg.com and we’ll give you access to the complimentary DVD Sampler from Margaret Feinberg.
