I got a call from our bank that my credit card had been stolen, I had over $10,000 worth of fraudulent activity on my card. The worst part was that they wouldn’t replace the funds in my account until the investigation was complete which could be up to a year! I would have to borrow money from our “rainy day” fund until they completed the investigation.
I called our credit union, where we keep our savings, and spoke with my favorite banker, Sheila. I explained the situation; she shared my frustration and began the process for transferring the money. I’ve been banking with our credit union for over 15 years, we just had a conversation about my kids and her husband’s surgery, so imagine my surprise when she asked me, “Can you tell me the name on the account?”
Had I been a stranger this would have been routine practice but, given the fact that we had 10 minutes of friendly conversation seconds before, I was taken aback. I answered her question curtly, emphasizing my confusion. “The address where you receive your account statement?” she continued. I subdued the part of my brain that wanted to reply “The same address where you came to the Christmas party” and gave our address… This line of questioning continued with her asking my maiden name, the last four digits of my social, and then lastly, the reason for my call. “I am requesting access to MY money, Sheila, that’s why I am calling!” I yelled into the receiver.
Sheila, not fazed by my outburst, replied “I know it seems tedious but, when you’re removing your funds before the maturity date there can be consequences. We have to go through this line of questioning so we can be sure that you understand the risks of taking the funds out early. Even though I understand why you need the money, answering these questions let us know how badly you want it. “
Sheila knew from the very beginning why I was calling, she knew why I needed the funds when we began the process, I had made my request known but it wasn’t until the questioning was complete that she understood how desperately I wanted it.
The end of Philippians 4:6 admonishes us to “make our request known to God.” I can’t help but wonder why we are making our request KNOWN to God when it is clear that He is all-knowing. Then I began to wonder what if us making our request known to God isn’t so that He knows what we want, it’s so He understands just how badly we want it?
Much like the banker who knew the woman well, she could not release the funds until the woman fully understood the weight of her request. It is not enough to desire something, if you aren’t willing to go through the formal process to receive. It was the woman’s money but the banker had the authority to release the funds. There is a blessing with your name on it and God is waiting to give you access. Have you made your request? What are you willing to go through to get what God has for you? Are you willing to be tested? Can you take the risk that comes with being blessed?
When we make our requests to God, we are not telling Him anything He doesn’t know. Psalms 37:4 teaches us, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” God knows what we want the moment it is laid in our heart but, when our desire meets passion we must fall to our knees and pray that God sees that we are willing to do whatever it takes to receive His blessings. When we fully understand the highs and the lows of God blessing us, He can allow us access to more.
Many of us desire more from God but we don’t want to take the risk that it comes with. Are you willing to let some people go to get what God has for you? Do you mind losing a job, if it means saving your marriage? You’ve made your request, now it’s time to see how badly you want it. How many tears are you willing to sow, before you reap in joy? Don’t just ask God for a blessing, request strength to go through the risks of being blessed.
At the beginning of 2011, I asked God to strengthen my marriage. I prayed that He would give us stability, that my parent’s would be in good health, that my children would be happy, and that my family’s lives would be fulfilled. I spent January through June thinking that God didn’t hear my prayers. One thing after another began to pile on me… I didn’t understand why, if I had “made my request known”, nothing was coming to fruition. It wasn’t until September that I realized that those months when I felt like God didn’t hear me was Him verifying that I was ready to be blessed. God knew what I wanted, I just did not know that some of the best blessings come with risk.
God, help us to understand that what You have for us can change the very essence of our being but, the road may not be easy. Give us wisdom when we make our request, so that we may understand that just because we ask doesn’t mean that it is immediately given to us. Give us patience as we learn that there are some blessings that are worth the trials and tribulations that come with them. Above all God help me to see that You have blessings waiting for me that I don’t have room to receive; I just need to understand the risk of making a request. ♥
