My crazy comparison between ibuprofen and prayer. Ever wondered how prayer is like ibuprofen? Ok, I haven’t either. LOL But, I thought of a cool analogy and can’t wait to share it with you. “Trust and believe in God” is what they tell us, but how does that look? I’ve got some tips to do it without going crazy in the process.
So glad I carry all that junk in my bag.
Sunday, I had a bit of a headache during the church service.
I’m not sure if it was because I was sitting closer to the drums than normal or because I was just plain sleepy.
Either way, I was feeling yucky. Since my handbag is a mini version of QuickTrip (everything is in there!), I remembered I had not only ibuprofen in my bag, but also a bottle of water. I could drug myself right there in church.
Yaaay for big handbags and ibuprofen!
Anyhoo, I popped a couple of those little orange pills and re-engaged in the church service.
Praise and worship was electric and the entire service just had a terrific flow to it. Pastor Darwin Pennye (a minister from my church) stood in for my husband and preached a stellar, moving sermon. My spirit was soaring, my heart was challenged and my headache was nothing more than a blurry memory.
Have you ever had some sort of pain at one point in your day and then later have a subtle realization the pain had gone? Maybe, you’re driving down the street and you think “hmmmm…my back isn’t hurting anymore” or “No aches or pains…this is a good day.”
Well, mine was one of those moments at church. As service was ending, I thought to myself “my headache is gone!” I wasn’t surprised or anything because I had take the medicine. I was just aware of it. After all, I expected pills to work.
We don’t doubt ibuprofen, so why doubt the Lord?
Like always, when I take meds I sort of “forget” about the pills and move along with my day.
A couple hours after the dosage, I’m usually back to normal (whatever that is) and forgot about the former pain.
Are you like that too?
It’s as if I had so much faith and confidence the ibuprofen would do what it was supposed to do, I took no thought of it after I swallowed those tablets. I didn’t put a note in my calendar “Did ibuprofen work?” Didn’t leave the worship service to see if it worked. I just went on about my day.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we always had the exact same confidence to trust and believe in God after we pray?
Yeah, what if we could pray – take our petitions to the Lord – and just “forget” about them immediately after?
But, we don’t trust and believe in God like we ought.
Instead, so many of us (myself included) ponder, worry, stress, wonder, think and “spazz” over the very thing we entrusted to the mighty God of the universe.
The truth is we (myself included) really should pray and then “fa-get about it” just like we do when we take the Ibuprofen.
That’s what faith can look like. That’s what trusting God could look like. It’s also what it should look like, right?
Believe God more than you believe anything or anyone else. Click To TweetThe caveat to Trusting and believing God…
Let me be clear. I’m not advocating laziness.
If God requires you to do something (some sort of action), you need to do it.
After you’re obedient, that’s when you just “fa-get about it.”
For example, if you’re praying for your finances to get better. You’ll need to be obedient in tithes and offerings. That’s the requirement. After that, you “fa-get about it.”
Further, God may say “take up your bed and walk” like he did the paralyzed man. If so, that’s when you do what He says and “fa-get about it.”
Here’s that scripture I’m referencing…just so you know:
“Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath John 5: 8-9
I love the hymns about trusting God.
“Oh what needless pains we bear…”
How true is this timeless hymn? It’s the perfect illustration of my “fa-get about it” ibuprofen-laden concept.
Check out the lyrics to the hymn… it all about what I’m talking about:
- What a friend we have in Jesus,
- All our sins and griefs to bear!
- What a privilege to carry
- Everything to God in prayer!
- Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
- Oh, what needless pain we bear,
- All because we do not carry
- Everything to God in prayer!
- Have we trials and temptations?
- Is there trouble anywhere?
- We should never be discouraged—
- Take it to the Lord in prayer.
- Can we find a friend so faithful,
- Who will all our sorrows share?
- Jesus knows our every weakness;
- Take it to the Lord in prayer.
- Are we weak and heavy-laden,
- Cumbered with a load of care?
- Precious Savior, still our refuge—
- Take it to the Lord in prayer.
- Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
- Take it to the Lord in prayer!
- In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
- Thou wilt find a solace there.
- Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
- Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
- May we ever, Lord, be bringing
- All to Thee in earnest prayer.
- Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
- There will be no need for prayer—
- Rapture, praise, and endless worship
- Will be our sweet portion there.
Take to heart #4, 11, 12, 16, 22, 23, 27 and 28…then fa-get about it! 🙂
Trust and Believe in God…for real!
I don’t know about you, but I’m challenging myself to move toward the “ibuprofen” posture of prayer. As I mature myself and stretch myself, I’ll pray and work toward forgetting about it – thereby allowing God to work while I stay in perfect peace.
“You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3
God forbid I have more faith in ibuprofen than I do in the Lord of Hosts.
What do you think?
BONUS CONTENT:
If you’re not convinced, here are some things to help you and I in our endeavor to trust and believe God the” ibuprofen” way.
Allow me to share some of my favorite examples of pain-killer faith in Bible…
Cool, Smart Abigail
She was super cool.
Her husband, Nabel wasn’t. In fact, he was a dootyhead being stubborn and stupid.
After David’s men requested sustenance. He mouthed off, Abigail, being wise and intelligent, demonstrated faith by taking all sorts of yummies to the very man her husband insulted. She wanted to make peace. It was in good time too because David was indeed on his way to handle “his business”.
“Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.”
I Samuel 25:13
Abigail knew David and his men could have killed her, but she still bravely acted on faith and went to them anyway. She had to have worried a little or doubted a tad bit as she planned her outreach, but she casted those doubts aside and did it anyway.
In fact, verse 18 says she moved fast, or “Abigail acted quickly.”
She definitely had a “fa-get about it” spiritual painkiller moment.
Scripture: 1Sam 25:1-1Sam 25:42, 2Sam 3:3
Smooth, Dedicated Ruth
Here’s another one!
You know Ruth had to have a ibuprofen “fa-get about it” moment when she left all she knew in Moab to go with her beloved mother in law, Namoi.
Living in the land of her people wasn’t as important to her as going with Naomi after her husband and in-laws died.
Think about it. She left her aunts, uncles and everything familiar to go ‘Lord knows where’ with the Naomi. I like to believe she talked to God about His plans for her and she just moved forward…leaving it all.
She then squashed the worry and moved on. Walking toward her destiny of being in the lineage of Christ.
She said…
“Where you go I will go, and
where you stay I will stay. Your
people will be my people and your
God my God.”
Ruth 1:16
Honorable, Patient Elizabeth
Her very name means “God is my oath” according to Bible Gateway.com (source: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Elisabeth)
As you may recall, Elizabeth was advanced in years and childless. She was a good woman as the Bible (in verse 6 of Luke 1) says she. It denotes both she and her husband were “righteous before God.”
Being righteous, you know she had to have a strong prayer life, right?
I’ll bet she had prayed for a child at roast once during her marriage. The Bible said she was “unable to conceive” (verse 7). Women I know in similar circumstances pray often to conceive. I’ll bet Elizabeth was no different.
The Bible never said she was “vexed” or worried about it as was Hanna…Samuel’s mother. Don’t get me wrong, I believe Hannah was a woman of faith too. She just journeyed a bit differently than Elizabeth, that’s all.
At any rate, Elizabeth prayed…and did a “fa-get about it” ibuprofen move – she just kept it moving.
The result, the birth John the Baptist at a time of life most women are doing everything but having children.
God is so amazing! These women waited and believe God. You and I can too, right?
Bible Verses to soothe the wait.
I’ve collected a few scriptures to guide you and I to trust and believe God.
If you need some spiritual “ibuprofen” to remedy the pangs and pains of waiting for God to move, I’ve got you covered.
Here are some scriptures.
James 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulations. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
Romans 12: 17-20 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Fa-get about it)
Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Lamentations 3:25-27 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
The point of these scriptures is to believe the Lord…
You see, the whole point of these scriptures is to aid you in your waiting.
Waiting becomes easier when you have the “NSAIDS” of scripture to make the wait a little easier.
When sorrow surfaces, read one of these scriptures.
When doubt rears its ugly head, go ahead and read one of these scriptures to help you trust and believe God is at work. Put them in your phone, plant them on your calendar. Keep them in your view.
Now, scripture is not a magic formula. We, as Christians, don’t subscribe to formulas. We deal in truths.
The trust of the matter is God is faithful. This being so, means when we pray, we really can leave the Lord to act in our best interest or according to His plan for us.
This kills the “ouch” of waiting. It makes it a little easier and gives the Holy Spirit something g to work with.
He can bring these scriptures back to our remembrance and give us the peace of pain-free patience. Amen?
Read “Trusting God to do His Work” by Billy Graham
Or, watch this snippet from Joyce Meyer
Pin some good Christian content for women!
