My kids tell me that I am able to reach out in faith during a storm because God helps me, they then proceed to tell me that they do not get that same help.  This particular day the concern was over several different things, but one was regarding homework, math in particular.  The conversation occurred in the car on our way to an appointment. 

I was challenging my girls to trust that God will help them through the tough times and to first pray for a solution to the issue or issues at hand.  The next comment was that they were taught at church that God doesn’t help us if we are asking for things about ourselves.  My response was, “I would not be who I am today if God didn’t respond to my prayers!  However, my prayers are not always answered in the way I hope or imagine.” 

I am not always aware of God’s response to my prayers immediately, but in hindsight, the path is always better than I could have dreamed for myself.  Of course, I confirmed that we do pray for others; but we also turn to prayer and our faith when we are struggling ourselves. 

Back to the storm that erupted in the car, I suggested to them that my first solution would be to pray for less stress and the ability to complete everything in the time available.  That did not go over so well, but my daughter must have followed through because as she was waiting for her appointment, the doctor said to her, “What are you working on?”  In frustration, she replied that she was trying to solve her math. 

The doctor then asked someone in the waiting room, “You teach math, right?”  The woman answered by saying she was teaching freshman math this year.  The doctor grinned and the teacher proceeded to help the girls through their math homework.  They had actually done the problems correctly but did not understand the concept.  Thank you, God, they were smiling by the end of the appointment/lesson!

After we left the appointment I looked at the girls with a smile and said, “So who do you think put that 9th-grade math teacher in the doctor’s office at the appropriate time?”  My daughter half smiled and said, “I know Mom.”

It is not easy, but it is important to show others the way to a strong faith.  When you believe without a doubt and keep your faith number one, all things seem to fall into place, even during storms. 

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