pray for a parking spot

It's late Sunday night, it's been a long day, and parking lot 99A is my last battle. It's a known struggle for Newells dwellers that parking spots are about as hotly contested as Rita's on the first day of spring. If you're not smart about it, you'll end up on THE OTHER SIDE (aka lot 99B), and consequently your trek home will be twice as long.

As I turn onto campus, a prayer pops into my tired mind. Dear God, please let me get a parking spot. I immediately chide myself. Oh please. Be a man. You don't NEED a parking spot. Don't bother God with petty things. With a sigh, I pull into the parking lot and begin the careful search for an empty space. Nope, nope, nope, nope....WAIT. COULD IT BE?! IT IS!! One spot left, hidden behind the dumpster. Right in front of my apartment. Singing praises of joy, I'm immediately overwhelmed with a wave of shame. How could I have doubted God's power, especially in something as small and insignificant as a parking spot for a weary (read lazy) college student?

Ever since this incident, this prayer has become quite a common occurrence, along with other such small prayers. Dear God, please let the line for the bathroom not be too long. Dear God, please let it stop raining long enough for me to walk to class. Dear God, please let me not fall asleep in lecture today. And you know, not all of them are answered in the affirmative all the time. (You can always find another bathroom if you're desperate enough btw.) Sometimes I would still have to hike up my boots and make the trek from lot 99B. But see, it's not about getting a parking spot every time I pray for one. It's about realizing that God cares about the little things, including parking spots. Things that I might not need but that show He's listening and He desires to bless me. Rather than feeling burdened by my off-handed requests, He's just excited that I even thought to ask Him, showing that I trust Him. And though His purpose is always greater than mine, I think it makes Him smile when He's able to answer yes.

So if these little things are so meticulously watched over and cared for by our Father, how much more are the big things in His control? Just imagine the power in those prayers. Here we are, lamenting over our lack of direction for the rest of our lives, and God's like, hey. I got you. All you gotta do is ask.

I'm still learning how to pray, and it's one of those things that you can never really finish learning. But God is the best teacher. So expect to be amazed.

-M