When Your Story Book Contains Blank Pages

I pulled out Clara's baby book last week to add her recent school picture.

As I was doing so, Camille walked over and wanted to join in and "help."

Camille: Oh, Mama it's baby Camille!

Me: No, sweetie, this is baby Clara.

Camille: Oh, OKAY. She so cute! Show me more pictures?

Me: Sure, we can look at more pictures, let's start from the beginning.

Camille crawled in my lap and we looked through Clara's book, page by page. She pointed out every detail and made sure I looked at every single element of every single photo.

When we got to page 34, Camille looks up with concern , "Mama, you didn't finish . . . write more!"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at lines untouched by ink.

"Oh, sweetie. This page is to remember when Clara says her first words. She doesn't speak yet. We will fill in these pages if and when she says her first words."

To which she replied, "Oh, ok. That be good."

Following that moment we had a mini conversation about how we keep praying for God to open Clara's mouth, but even if He doesn't, we love Him regardless and He is good.

. . .

And I can't help but think that there are so many of you out there with blank pages waiting to be filled.

Waiting for God to answer a prayer. A prayer that you have been praying for so long that you wonder, Do I even need to keep lifting this up because surely, after all this time, He knows the desire of my heart.

Waiting for a spouse.

Waiting for a child.

Waiting for that new job that will bring new opportunity.

Waiting for reconciliation in a relationship.

Waiting for healing from chronic illness or life-shattering diagnosis.

Waiting for just one solid friendship.

And while I don't have all the answers, I sit with you, with my own pages, wanting so desperately for God to fill in the blanks.

And, friend, regardless of if it's been one day or one year or ten years, He asks us to keep asking. To keep bringing Him our pages. To keep showing up and asking Him, in His perfect wisdom, to write the rest of our story. In His perfect way and in His perfect time.

It's in this repetition, this constant showing up, that we display our trust and hope.

The Word tell us He knows what we ask before we ask it, but the Word also tell us to present our requests to God, with thankfulness and expectation.

So we bring the unfilled pages of our stories and present them to God, with hearts that say I know you've got this and work for my best and I will keep watch with eyes wide open for how you are working, even if these pages remain unfilled. 

That even if can be hard, can't it?

But by looking back on my own story I remember God is always at work for my best.

For your best.

That best just might look different than we always hoped or originally planned.

. . .

What blank pages are you waiting for God to fill? How have you seen Him working for your good, even in the wait?