The One Question I'm So Sick Of (And a prayer...for us)

"What do you want?"

This is a very popular question people are often asked in business, in counseling, in coaching.


I've never had a problem knowing and describing exactly what I want.

Ever.

My entire life I have been able to define and articulate what I want, how I want it, when I want it, and who I want it from right down to the exact details.

For all of that realization, I am often frustrated. Because I've found that defining what you want doesn't solve your problems. Even knowing what you want and going after it wholeheartedly doesn't solve all your problems. Because sometimes no matter how hard you try, it doesn't go the way you want it to go. Sometimes it also takes more than one person to make it work. Like the song says, "It takes two to make a thing go right...it takes two to make it outta sight..."

It's been my experience that anything I want that is possible to achieve by myself, is no problem. When I desire something and all it takes is me to achieve it, it usually happens pretty quick.

But sometimes, things don't happen, at least for a while, because it takes someone else to collaborate  to make it go.

And it's in those moments that I have found the greatest ache in my heart.

Sometimes other people live in confusion and don't know what they want and that messes up what you want. Because although you're on a certain track, they're running around in circles with no direction. And you can provide direction and even do that very well, but it doesn't mean they will take it.


Sometimes they do know what they want and it's the opposite of what you want.

Sometimes they don't care one way or another, and that also affects whether you receive what you want too.

And I've learned no matter how hard working you are, or even how nice or spiritual you are, sometimes you're just not going to get what you want. And it's in that place that a lot of soul searching happens. At least with me. I often wonder about other people's experience of processing disappointment.

What's the purpose of this post today? I'm just being brutally honest here about my own struggle as well as taking an opportunity to pray for you. Because chances are, you are grieving something.

And I know you hurt too. And if you're a Christian, you also try to come to terms with your feelings when people say, "it's not all about you", or  you get Psalm 37:4 quoted to you til' you're blue in the face.

I understand.

So that's the purpose of this post.

Father God, please help my friends who read this today. Help them come to terms with significant losses in their lives. Wrap your loving arms around them and soothe them in only the way you can, when heart longings aren't met and dreams die, at least temporarily. Shed light on the darkness in their lives and bring comfort in a way that only You can bring it. Shield my friend from irritating cliches, and worn out pat answers. Cocoon them from this, I pray. Give them refuge in time spent with you and renewed perspective for the next step. There's always a next step. Show my friend what it is. When they don't see any way out, over or under -- please grant them hope. And, direction for the future. Most of all grant them a constant awareness of Your presence.

Thank you, Jesus.

Amen.




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