How often does the world distract us, so that we forget to pray? How easily do we get caught up in the moment, only to realise later it would’ve been the perfect time to pray?
‘Pathfinders’ is a word that carries many memories for me, of camping; rainy weather; friendships; completing honours and so much more. One of the Pathfinder memories that rings loud in my mind is the one I’m about to share.
Back in September 2021, I was travelling with a busload of keen Pathfinders to Pathfinder Expedition. We departed late and being the director, I was so focused on making sure we got there on time so everyone would have time to set-up and settle in for the night, before a long weekend of hiking. We had just driven through a town when we found out about a tragic motor-vehicle accident on the road ahead – meaning it would be closed. The turn-off we needed to take was a few km’s on the other side of the accident and the only other road to our destination was an hour-long detour on a dirt road. As if my stress levels weren’t high enough you can imagine where they were as we started our long detour. We travelled along this dirt road into the night, keeping our fingers crossed we wouldn’t get lost. Eventually, we arrived at base camp and managed to have a fantastic weekend of hiking.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
I didn’t realise it at the time but there was a reason for everything that had happened above.
Fast-forward to the following Friday, when I’m back at work, as an Exercise Physiologist, completing an exercise session with a dear elderly lady with a strong Christian faith and a believer in prayer. Naturally, she asks “How my weekend was?” and I proceed to tell her all about the expedition and the big detour we had to take due to the motor-vehicle accident. As I continued to tell her this story she said, “So you did manage to leave on time?” and I answered, “No, we left about 15 minutes late because of this and that, etc…”. She went quiet for a while as I continued talking; then she asked me, “Where were you about 6 o’clock?” I answered, “Well, we had just driven through this town and had come to the turn-around point near the accident then we had to start the long detour”. Immediately she started smiling and chuckling quietly.
I asked her with a confused face “Why are you smiling?”. She answered, “I was sitting at home, and around 6 o’clock I got this feeling that I should pray for you and your Pathfinders.” Immediately I was taken back. How do you respond to that? Before I even had time to answer she continued saying, “There was a reason you didn’t leave on time…because if you had left on time, it could’ve been you in the tragic accident. The Lord was looking out for you”.
God caught my attention. In the moment, I was so worried about finding new directions and arriving late that God had to take someone else to tell me to “Stop and reflect for a moment”. So many times, in our lives we get fixated in the moment and struggle to take a step back.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
This moment was a great reminder to me that sometimes an answer to prayer might not be something that you’re praying for, it might be the answer to someone else’s prayer around you. God has the most amazing plan for our life and it’s so easy to get fixated or worried in the moment but sometimes he just tells us to stop and reflect on what He has already done for us.
So, what is God trying to get you to stop and reflect on?
WRITER: Sophie Bullock, attends Canberra National SDA Church.