the situations God gives us.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. - Colossians 4:2

Have you ever been mad at God for putting a messy or bad situation in front of you? Maybe a situation in which you were annoyed, angry, or not full of joy?

Now consider stopping and thinking about the things you have recently prayed for… did you ask for patience? Did you ask for joy? 

Praying for things like patience can be one boldddd prayer. God doesn’t always work like you think.. He doesn’t always just give you what you want right when you ask for it. Most of the time, actually almost always, it takes time. Like when we pray for patience. No, you aren’t just going to go around being the most patient and unannoyed person the second you get done praying.. But God may hand you a situation that makes you have to dig deep for patience. Sometimes, God makes us do some of the work.

 It's the same with joy.. And joy is a tough one. If we pray for joy, we may end up with a situation that is so frustrating, upsetting, or just sad. It's in those moments that God is trying to help us find the joy that only He gives. 

 As I'm writing this, I really need this reminder too. I pray for patience and joy often.. But now I am realizing how many situations God has put me in to be able to have more patience and more joy. 

  They say everything happens for a reason, in which I believe that is true, for many reasons. One being that it can force us to bring out the things we pray for! Prayer works in many many ways, as God works in the most mysterious ways. 

  When you end up in an unwanted situation maybe try and look back on the things you have recently prayed for. Then, work on applying those things to that situation and see how it changes for the better. 

  Know that your prayers aren't ignored, but sometimes you have to do some of the work to see God working!