An Answered Prayer

⁶ I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
   turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
⁷ Show me the wonders of your great love,
   you who save by your right hand
   those who take refuge in you from their foes. 

Psalm 17:6-7

 

It is so easy to fall into rote prayers most of the time.  Thank you God for this day, be with us, keep us safe, forgive us...you know, things like that.  And then there are prayers that are massive...God lift this terrible burden, save his/my life, heal this broken body, etc.  But because there is so much suffering and ugliness in the world, I have hard time praying for "trivial" things.  My heart knows that God hears my prayers, no matter the size, but my brain tells me that He's too busy and that it's silly to pray for such minuscule things.  But I know deep in my being that that is just a lie from the evil one.  And I have a story to prove that!

We have lived in this current home for close to three years and in that time our aerobic septic system has not worked properly.  If you don't know how they work, here's the gist ~ at night the liquid that has been "purified" sprays out into the yard.  I know...gross, right?!  It's supposed to be clear and clean...

Anyway, ours has a terrible smell.  When we bought the house 1.5 years ago the subdivision put a 1 year warranty on it and assured us that they would do everything they could to get it fixed.  They sent out multiple people to look at it and every one of them claimed it was fine and that the smell is normal.  We even, by law, have to have it inspected quarterly, and they claimed it was fine.  We however don't believe it.  But now a year and half later, with the warranty expired the smell has gotten so much worse.  Our neighbors are complaining, I'm afraid to walk in the yard and we can't afford to have anyone come out and look at it.  We explained to our neighbors that we have done everything that we know how to do and the "experts" claim that nothing is wrong with it.  

So three days ago I just threw up my hands and prayed a very quick but a very heartfelt prayer.  God, please heal our septic system!  Then I giggled a little because I could just imagine what that sounded like!  Since that moment I haven't thought much about it.

Well yesterday  morning a man showed up from the Environmental Protection Agency.  Apparently the neighbors complaints went straight to the top, the EPA.  Were we in trouble, could we get a fine?  I was nervous...we have no money to diagnose and fix this problem.  The Mister went out to speak with him and about 45 minutes later, I had an answer to my prayer.  There is definitely something wrong with the system (we knew that) and it has to be fixed immediately (again we knew that, just didn't know how!)  We are not in trouble because we have done everything in our power to fix it and not to mention, our "experts" we pay every year to inspect it, claimed it was fine.   This EPA man, sent directly from God has gotten the ball rolling!  We are expecting a septic man that he recommends to come out and diagnose and fix the problem.  EPA man says that this gentleman that is coming is "the best in the field!"  And to make it even better, the subdivision is paying for it even though the system is out of warranty!  

I was weary from the burden of our "poopy dilemma."  I was always on edge, just waiting for the next complaint.  So I lifted my voice to Heaven and with a giggle in my prayer I cried out to my Heavenly Father.  "Heal our septic tank!"  And He heard!  Not only did He hear, but He sent healing!  Within a few days, the smell will be gone and our septic will be as healthy as a horse! 

God cares about every detail of of lives.  We just need to give Him the chance to show that He cares!  Why it took me 3 years to ask for this, I don't know...but I finally did...and now I can rest in His healing presence! 

Have a blessed weekend and never stop lifting your voice to Heaven! :-)