John 14:12-14 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (ESV)

In the summer, I was out in the fields taking pictures of butterflies and nature. This was in between dropping the children off to school, doing chores, and getting back to pick them up again later.

My attention was focused on taking pictures of butterflies. The camera has a dioptre adjustment, so, when looking through the lens, I do not need my glasses on. Consequently, I hung them off the centre of my V-neck jumper by one side of the frame's ear pieces. Silly me.

Having snapped my latest butterfly, I followed it as it flew off into the deep grass, adjusting my camera shoulder bag as I went. When the butterfly had left the field, I went to put my glasses, only to find them gone. Oops!

I looked for what seemed a long time, retracing my steps as best as I could, looking left and right. After I returned to the car to find another pair, I continued on to no avail.

Time ran out, and I had to go and collect the children from school. Oh! the thought of explaining to my wife at dinner that muggins here had been running about with gay abandon and then lost an expensive pair of glasses that we could ill afford to replace. My heart sank as I drove.

As it happened, it was the longest day of the year, so after dinner, in desperation, I returned and had another look before the sun set, as a last effort.

On the way to the hillside in the car, I had a choice discussion with God. In this scenario, there was just my own stupidity to consider — no one else's free will — so how about a helping hand here? It ended with: "So it would be really nice if You could deliver on Your promises" — the ones in today's passage.

I stood at the top of the hillside and surveyed the three-foot-high grasses, bushes, and wild flowers with dismay. It seemed to me that there was little or no chance of ever finding the glasses, as I had earlier already retraced all the dirt paths.

So, in desperation, I walked straight down the field, looking as I went through the long grass, towards where I had been photographing, and stopped in the middle and looked down. Right at my feet lay my glasses: Amazing! It was one in a many-million chance. How could that be?

So now, I rejoiced with God over my find, and then, became a little sheepish because I had not been the most expectant that God would be gracious to me.

Apparently, God knew my heart and my situation, and so granted my request just to prove that He is able to do so. I cannot explain it by just serendipity, and I decided to share with the church what God had done for me.

Sometimes, we do not get the "Yes!" answer that we want, but God always hears our prayers, and it is always good to ask!

Praise God for His mercy and favour: amazing grace.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding us of Your amazing patience with us and how You love to be in discussion with us, even about the hard stuff of life. Please hear the prayers of Your loved ones today, and grant us an awareness of Your walking with us wherever we go today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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