Small Mercies: Asking God for What We Need
Lord, I need a break. The words rose up quickly from a deep place in my heart during a brief moment of silent prayer. I was standing in front of a classroom, having just asked my students to think about what they needed to ask God for that day. With so many other worries on my mind, my heart spoke up and asked -- simply, loudly -- for a break.
At the time, I was envisioning something like a nap or a day off. As a working mom of two little ones, both of those things are hard to come by. Initially, I was somewhat startled by this almost instinctual request. Shouldn’t I be able to handle this vocation on my own? Shouldn’t it give me life and joy rather than deplete me?
As I contemplated these questions, a famous verse from the Gospel of Matthew came to mind: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
I used to think this verse was meant for big requests only -- asking God for a job, a spouse, or a second chance. But as I look at this verse with new eyes, I am struck by the invitation Jesus extends to his followers. Jesus is inviting us to ask Him for what we need. He wants us to ask. The request doesn’t need to be big, it just needs to come from the heart. And when we look with the eyes of faith, we will find the answers we seek.
Indeed, over the past year, I have noticed a significant change in my prayer life. Instead of setting aside blocks of quiet time for reflection and conversation with God, prayer has recently become like a crutch or a walking stick for me -- something I use in short, frequent bursts to help me hobble through chaotic days. While I long for the days when I could center myself and spend sustained time in deep prayer, my current state in life and the current state of the world have compelled me to seek God in new ways. Even though they look much different than they used to, God is still listening to and answering my prayers.
Tayler Crabb, @taylercrabb.
After my heartfelt petition for a break, I started receiving answers from the Lord. Not just one answer -- not just one break -- but many. A morning when both of my children sleep past 7 AM. The item I need at the grocery store happens to be on sale. The sound of my students laughing and joking together for the first time in a long time. An easy bedtime so I can spend an hour of quality time with my husband. Weather that is “good enough” to play outside. These answers were not what I was expecting (I’d still love a nap!), but they still give me what I need.
Better still, these small mercies make me feel seen and loved by God in a new, personal way. Because these moments of rest or relief have been providential and perfectly tailored to my day, I am more certain than ever that God is walking beside me on my unique journey to Heaven. He sees and understands the particular struggles I face as a wife, mom, and teacher. He loves me both when I try to do good and when I fail. Even when I feel lost, scared, or exhausted, He has not abandoned me.
These small mercies have increased my capacity for gratitude, too. Often a traditional gratitude list doesn’t work well for me because I have a hard time thinking past big ticket items like my house, my job, and my family. However, in the moment when I am running late for work and hit a string of green lights, I can’t help but send up a heartfelt, “Thank you!” to the God who is surely watching out for me. No matter how many times I ask, God never tires in providing the grace that I need to continue the work He has asked me to do.
As we continue to rejoice in the greatest sign of God’s mercy, the Resurrection, consider being bold in your petitions to God. What do you need from Him this day to be His faithful follower? Then keep your eyes open as He answers your prayers. You might be surprised what you find.
Meet Catherine Sullivan
Catherine Sullivan serves her family as a stay-at-home mom and teaches religion and literature part-time at an all-girls Catholic high school. She holds a master’s degree in systematic theology from the University of Notre Dame, where she focused her studies on the female Doctors of the Church and Catholic spirituality. An outgoing introvert with a heart for Catholic feminism, Catherine lives in Maryland with her husband and children. Follow her on Instagram @catherinesullivanwrites.