Not long ago, on the recommendation of my dental tech, Mari, I started using an electric toothbrush. At first, I would quickly run the surface of the toothbrush over my teeth, using the same technique that I used with my traditional toothbrush for decades. Then I learned something profound: The tool is much more effective when I slow down and let it do the work it was designed to do! This realization, and a prayer from my friend Monica, prompted me to reflect on a related spiritual truth.
One of my favorite prayer partners in the world is Monica Jones. From the earliest days of Hope Haven Rwanda, she has humbly kneeled with us in prayer. Nearly every week, Monica harnesses the intentions of so many of our friends and crafts a prayer that we can all share. Monica challenges each one of us to present our team, our community and specific needs before the very throne of God.
One of her recent prayers struck me as particularly timely. It was almost as if she could sense the underlying anxiety that several of us were experiencing as we prepare for a major capital project—a new high school which we hope will serve an additional 810 students. God has given a clear vision, but we still wrestle with the “how” and “when.” I find myself in this position frequently. I can see what I think God wants to do in a specific situation, but I have no idea how He will do it. Those are the times when I need to rest…and wait…and not fret.
King David must have had similar feelings, especially when he saw evil forces prosper and wondered why God was allowing it. In Psalm 37:7, he wrote, “Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret…”
As Monica recently prayed: “Lord, we always see a need for more growth because of the number of families still in need. Help us to not get ahead of You or feel like it is solely our responsibility, when clearly You love the Rwandan people more than we do and your plan for them goes beyond Hope Haven. We ask that You give the leadership team clear direction on how far to move forward each day.” This prayer is a beautiful reminder that God does the work in His time and in His way!
Every time you use your toothbrush, remind yourself that it is God who does the real work—not us. We can slow down, and trust him to work through us!
P.S. Thanks to all of you who join us regularly in prayer. We are especially grateful for the prayer support of our Board of Trustees, our Advisory Board, our Hope Angels and so many more. We appreciate your faithful prayers!