Wearing God Out

My daughter and her sons traveled to and from the beach with me. My daughter drove. I take the passenger seat unless the smaller passengers become restless. Timothy munched or dozed contentedly the majority of our return trip, but Thomas, who is nearing four, fights sleep with words. His repeated chants of I wanna get out quickly became impossible to ignore. My daughter reminded him of our plan to stop off at the zoo to stretch a leg, asking if he wanted to get out here, in the middle of nowhere and barely ten miles down the road, or if he’d prefer to get out at the zoo with the rest of us. She explained we had Thomas hours to go and she would let him know when we had Amelia hours and Timothy hours left. She uses the ages of people he knows to count hours, minutes, bites, you name it. She reasons that as long as she can keep him talking, he’s less angsty. This probably explains why he converses easily with anyone we meet, regardless of age, but in truth, I wonder if God wants to keep us engaged in conversation with Him for the very same reason. 

“Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Give thanks no matter what happens. 

God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus. 

Don’t try to stop what the Holy Spirit is doing.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NIRV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/110/1th.5.17-19.NIRV

“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/1pe.5.7.TPT

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. 

Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 

Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. 

It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭MSG‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/97/php.4.6-7.MSG

Have you prayed all the prayers you know how to pray? Do you feel as if you’ve exhausted God with your neediness? Is your heart broken over something or someone who desperately needs what only Jesus can give? Are you Thomas tired to the point of crying I wanna get out? Holy Spirit intercedes where words fail. 

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. 

But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? 

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬-‭28‬, ‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.26-31.NLT

“Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. 

He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. 

A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ 

He never gave her the time of day. 

But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. 

But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’

Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? 

So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? 

Won’t he stick up for them? 

I assure you, he will. 

He will not drag his feet. 

But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭MSG‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.18.1-8.MSG

“Be prepared. 

You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. 

Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. 

Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. 

Learn how to apply them. 

You’ll need them throughout your life. 

God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. 

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. 

Pray hard and long. 

Pray for your brothers and sisters. 

Keep your eyes open. 

Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭MSG‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/97/eph.6.13-18.MSG

As we were packing to leave the beach this morning, Thomas burst onto the deck and, consistent with his sleepy car chant, declared, “I don’t want to go home today. I want to stay at the beach!” Ever the diplomat, my daughter chimed in, “Is your name Thomas, who’s not (do you hear me? I mean it!) going to move?” She was referencing the Alexander book by Judith Viorst that I’ve been reading to him from a series she had as a child. His grimace morphed into a grin and he darted back inside to finish his breakfast. This only works because Thomas picks up on her references. She knows him better than anyone. 

God, your Creator, knows you better than you know yourself. He’s given you His Word and His Spirit and He says, “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭TPT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.11.28-30.TPT