I’d just left the house, grocery list tucked away in my too-large, too-full purse, when I received the request: Please pray.
Of course, I’d pray.
Honestly, I thought it would be difficult. God’s been silent lately…not in a Is He even there? kind of way, but just not speaking to me in His usual way. Of course, if I’m honest about it, most of my recent prayers have been selfish and self-centered.
I started praying as I drove. But my scattered thoughts and lack of focus led to brief, interrupted sentence prayers. That just wasn’t going to do. I needed to know God was hearing me on this one.
Five minutes later, as I pulled into a parking space, got out of my car, and trudged toward the entrance, I asked God to meet me in the grocery store. I don’t even know where that came from, but it’s what I requested. Immediately, I thought my request strange, but began looking around the parking lot, expecting God Himself to walk up to me.
Upon entering the store, I continued to pray spurts of thoughts, not knowing exactly how to pray, or exactly what I needed to pray. I also continued to expect God to meet me…in human form, in some word from a stranger, perhaps.
About ten minutes into shopping, nothing unusual or out of the ordinary had happened. I kept praying, although I wondered if God was listening. I needed His attention on this.
Then, about halfway through the store, I stopped. I was alone on the aisle. Silently, I prayed fervently. I suddenly knew the words that needed to be prayed, and God met me there…surrounded by bottled water. Ironic, isn’t it? I was thirsty for Him, needing to drink in His attention during this prayer, and the Living Water met me amidst bottled water.
I continued shopping, praying strings of broken sentences while marking off my grocery list. But I had a peace that God was listening. He was hearing my heart…my prayers for the person who needed them. And while He never spoke, I felt His presence as sure I felt a package of bacon in my hands.
It may not look like we expect, but God meets us where we are. Even in the grocery store.
