I have two children.  It does not take very long on a drive before we hear this question from the back seat, “Are we there yet?”  Once they get started they feel the need to repeat it over and over and over again.  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?

Repeating their desired question over and over again does not do anything to pass the time or get us there any faster.  If anything it only brings frustration and agitation to their mother and father.

It is so annoying when they do that!

I have to humbly admit that I am guilty of doing the exact same thing.  Yes, there are car rides where I am whining out loud or in my head, are we there yet?  But there are many other times when I am doing the same thing.

When trying to loose weight and be more physically fit I step on the scale daily thinking, have I lost weight yet?

When I’m trying to focus on spending less and saving more,  I balance those accounts looking at the bottom line thinking, have I hit my target yet?

As I am working on painting the walls in my basement I look at what I have done and all I have left to do and think, am I done yet?

I find there are so many areas in my life where I just want to shout, AM I THERE YET?!!!

I am one amazingly impatient woman.  How about you?  Are there times where you just want to scream, am I there yet?

Have you heard the old adage, “life is a journey, not a destination”?

Ouch.  It pains me to think about how much of my journey I spend whining about not being at the destination yet.

Even when I set goals and hit milestones, there is no stopping there.  Days keep coming.  Hours keep passing.  The journey continues on.  I flop down before God and pray, “Am I there, yet?”

I wonder if God laughs when I do that.  Perhaps He is annoyed.  Maybe He is frustrated with me.

Just like my kids miss out on glorious scenery and new sights in the car ride, am I missing out on sights and experiences because I am whining?

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”  Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)

Knowledge of His will.

Spiritual wisdom and understanding.

A worthy life.

Pleasing God.

Bearing fruit in good work.

Growing in knowledge of God.

Being strengthened.

Having great endurance and patience.

Joyfully giving thanks.

Sharing in the kingdom of light.

Oh how I deeply long for all of these treasures!  What about you?  Re-read through the verses from Colossians and the list of promises that we can take away from it.

Now close your eyes and picture what would your life be like if these promises were realized for you.  Do you feel the same sense of peace that washes over me when I picture them in my mind’s eye?  I am picturing, not a perfect life without problems but a life where I can face the challenges that life offers daily and walk through them no matter how hard it gets.

I am thinking that I need to make this my “am I there yet” passage of scripture.

Did you notice the very beginning of this passage?  Do you see where it says, since we have heard we have not stopped praying?  Do you know what that means?  We have got to share our struggles with each other.  We have got to help one another carry those heavy burdens.  We need to remind each other of these promises God has given to us when are minds are screaming, am I there yet!

That can be such a challenge for us.  This is especially true for me.  I have a huge issue with pride and self righteousness.  I think I can do it myself.  I am getting better at humbling myself before God and asking for His help.  But tell others about my struggles.  No way.  I would rather trip over my pride than admit to a fellow believer how broken I am.  Sharing my sin, my mistakes and how much work I still need sure need is painful.

What if God’s answer to my prayer is through the person that He places in my life to listen to my struggle?  What if it is their prayers that will help me get through?

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  James 5:16

It is in the sharing and through the prayers of others that we may experiencing healing.

The prayer of a righteous man.  My first thought about that was, where am I going to find someone perfect to pray for me?  I do not think being righteous means being perfect.  Instead I think it is a person who is doing their best to experience who God really is and to be reminded of who He made us to be.  To have someone like that to pray for us, and to try to be that person to pray for others.  That is probably when God’s healing can shine brightest.

I need prayer for patience and perseverance; help in breaking down my lofty goals into smaller steps.  I need prayer that I may be thankful and rejoice in the Lord’s love even on the days where I go backward in my progress.  I need to be reminded that the Lord’s mercies begin anew each day.  I do not need to pile yesterdays failures up to drag them with me today; when I confess and repent, that forgiveness is total.

What about you?  What is it that you are in need of my dear friend?  How can I pray for you?  What is your struggle that has you shouting, AM I THERE YET?

Is it finances?  Is it that search for a new job?  Are you looking for someone to help you in your ministry?  Are you waiting for someone to share your life with?  What project are you longing to complete?  Are you trying to lose weight and improve the temple that God gave you?

If there is a way that I can be in prayer for you individually, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.  Send me an email with your request at pepupforjoy@gmail.com.  Let me take just a moment to pray for us all now.

Dear and Beloved Lord,

Thank You so much for this day and for this opportunity to focus our eyes on You.  Lord, before I pray for my dear readers and friends, I want to ask for forgiveness.  Lord, I am sorry for all the times I just break down and cry out “am I there yet”.  Lord, I am so impatient and get so frustrated by trying to get my way.  Thank You for all of the gracious and merciful ways that You remind me that Your ways are not my ways.  Help me to trust You.  Please make my heart righteous enough to offer up prayers that are effective and healing in the lives around me.  

Lord, please be with each of my readers today.  When they cry out to You in the midst of their circumstances, when the frustration has left them broken down on the side of life’s road, may they feel Your presence and sense the peace that You have called them to.  May they know that they do not have to understand how or why, may they just experience the fullness and goodness of Your love for them.  

Lord, above all help us to know that whatever we are facing and whatever we are in the middle of that You are there for us and are working in our lives.  Help us to recognize the help that You send through the lives of fellow believers.  May we have the ability to share our struggles and accept the help that is offered.  May we not feel the burden of repaying what You give, but instead may we just feel a joy of gratitude and respond in praise.  

Thank You Lord so much for the opportunity to lift up to You these treasures which You so magnificently created.  Thank You for bringing our lives together.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.