Standing in an Answered Prayer

For Desiree - thanks for encouraging me to get back to writing.

In June of 2006, I was finishing a year of teaching English in Nanchang, China. Questions about what life would look like upon returning to America wrapped around me and clung thickly like the southern China humidity. My sending organization held a debriefing conference in Los Angeles before releasing us to our respective homes. Part of some reflection work involved writing ourselves a letter and the organization would mail them six months later. I poured out my heart about lessons learned in China, and filled the back of the paper with hopes for America. I addressed the envelope to my parents’ house, not knowing for sure where I would be living.

By the time six months had passed, I had forgotten about the letter. It was interesting to receive mail for myself, addressed in my own handwriting. I snuggled into my favorite reading chair and read what Past Brooke had to say. It was so encouraging. Sweet memories of students and everyday life rose to the surface. There was a no excuses challenge to not be living a “safe” life but rather, to be getting out in the uncomfortable places, living like Jesus. Nanchang Brooke had prayed to be living with Elisa, teaching with a particular district, and spending lots of time with family (whom I had missed greatly during my time away).

I looked at my surroundings – my peaceful bedroom at Elisa’s house, ten minutes away from my parents and five minutes from my brother and sister-in-law, and realized I was standing in an answered prayer. My job prayer was absolutely true too. Plus, I was teaching the nicest group of kids I’d had in a while. Each hope was answered, not just sufficiently, but abundantly.

So often, I am honed in on the aching, the wanting, and the things I’m praying for but have yet to see. I am in a season of some really sad loss and am yearning for healing. I ache to see God change my current reality. And yet, just like all those years ago at Elisa’s house, today I am standing in an answered prayer.

Here I stand, imperfect and messy, but with both feet firmly planted in today, grateful to my loving God for hearing my prayers.


Thank You, God, that I get to live by Green Lake.
Thank You for a home with beautiful natural light.
Thank You for a walkable community.
Thank You for close relationships with my family.
Thank You for a wonderful job, with an irreplaceable teammate teacher next door.
Thank You for a view of the mountains.
Thank You for almost completely eradicating panic attacks from my life (Oh, how I cried out to God for this
          one. For months and months and months, every time a panic attack cinched my breathing passages
          and made my heart race, TODAY’S REALITY is what I cried to Him for. Bless You, God!).
Thank You for daily freeing me from sugar cravings (a miracle, if you ask me!).
Thank You for giving me the willingness and ability to forgive in places where I wanted to hang on to hurt.

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer, or withheld His love from me!

-Psalm 66:20