Pause and Pray

In the summer of 2022 we had gone to our camp for the night and when we got back home we discovered that Ken’s car had been broken into, rifled through and his extra set of keys, which he happened to leave in the car, were stolen.

Fast forward to late fall of 2023 when Ken went outside to start his car quick to let it warm up before leaving for work. He popped the keys into the ignition and since he only had the one set, he left the car unlocked as he ran back inside to grab his breakfast and give the kids and I our kisses and hugs before leaving for the day.

Within minutes of leaving the house Ken was suddenly back. I made a joke as he walked in the door, “Well that was a quick day” and his response was, “Yeah, my car was stolen.”

Say what?

He began to explain that he had also left his entire set of keys in the car, which included the keys to our house, the garage, our families houses and his place of work in the car too. The only key that wasn't there was the one to our other vehicle. I was relieved.

But now we needed to figure out if we could even get the car back and change all the locks on the house just in case these people came back.

We took a moment to look at our driveway camera to see what had exactly happened and watched as two individuals opened the drivers side door, jumping into his car and driving away. They must have been watching Ken, which made me cringe. My first reaction toward these people taking what belonged to us was discomfort and a sense of intrusion. I immediately didn’t like them.

As Ken started making phone calls and figuring out what to do next, I could see that he was obviously flustered and annoyed at the inconvenience these individuals caused. His day definitely wasn’t going the way he planned.

With the many emotions we were experiencing and the angst of it all, we decided it was time to pause and pray.

And as we prayed my heart softened because in those prayerful moments I realized that the that car was never ours, it was God’s, and those people who took it, were just as much loved by God as me and my family were.

As the day went on and various things played out, the Lord impressed these other truths on my heart:

If the car wasn’t stolen …

Prayers that were lifted, wouldn’t have been prayed otherwise. We had the privilege of interceding on behalf of two people who need the love of Jesus, just as must as the rest of us.

If the car wasn’t stolen . . .

Our oldest wouldn’t of have this opportunity to learn a valuable lesson in understanding that there are people who might do things that negatively impact us, but these people are lost and hurting and desperately need Jesus.

If the car wasn’t stolen …

Two neighbours and a cop wouldn’t have come into our house, the house we prayed over when we first moved in and the one I pray over often — asking that the Lord would bless whoever enters our home and that they would experience His love as they walk through our door.

If the car wasn’t stolen …

I wouldn’t have experienced this unsettled feeling deep in my gut as of result of not being able to stop thinking about those keys. Keys to places I’ve felt safe in. Keys to places I’ve called home. Keys to things that are what I consider mine. And I was reminded that maybe I’d become too comfortable here, forgetting that this place is not my home and all these things are given to me by God, so they ultimately belong to Him.

If the car wasn’t stolen …

I wouldn’t have been reminded of the truth that things in this life may be taken away, keys to spaces and things I value may be taken into the wrong hands — BUT nothing and no one can take away the key to life I’ve been given in Christ and the reality that I will one day be home with Him for eternity.

If the car wasn’t stolen …

These lessons may not have been learned in this way, at this specific time and these words may not have ever been written.

Through such a simple experience the Lord taught us so much.

What do I want you to take away from this story?

I want you to remember to be thankful and that there is still good in the midst of what we consider to be bad.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1

I want you to remember it’s about forgiveness first; it’s not about how people treat us, it’s about how we treat them.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:32

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. - Matthew 5:38-39

I want you to remember that the Lord gives and He takes away in whatever way He wishes to allow because He knows what we need even if it doesn’t make sense to us. And through it all, He still deserves our praise.

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”. - Job 1:21

I want you to remember that no matter what inconveniences you may face, He wants you to trust Him first and let Him work out the details, both in your situation and in your heart.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. - Proverbs 16:9

God has a purpose in everything; and what man might mean for evil, God can always use for good. Genesis 50:20

When things don't go your way.

When something happens outside of your perceived control.

When the day goes in an opposite direction than you intended.

When you can sense the frustrations rising and you're on the verge of becoming overwhelmed . . .

It’s a good indication that it’s time to step away from the noise to pause and pray.

And instead of being quick to put our backs up against the wall and wonder why bad things are happening us, we should pause long enough to say: Lord, change my perspective and help me see what You are doing here. For Your thoughts are not my thoughts and neither are You ways my ways (Isaiah 55:8). Even though this is disrupting my plan, it’s somehow apart of Yours, which means it is still good.

With much love - Krista

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Are you looking for a meaningful way to deepen your prayer life and growing in your relationship with the Lord?

The Daily Prayer pages features a simple layout, providing you with the space to express your praise and thanks to God, seeking His guidance and confessing what may be on your heart. It's about making your requests known to Him. There is also space provided for you to lay down whatever is heavy on your heart before the Lord.

The Weekly Prayer pages simply provide you with space to write out a shorter prayer for each day of the week.

This is also included in the Ultimate Bible Study Bundle, which can be found here.

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