A little boy was home with his mom and dad one Saturday afternoon, and he decided he was big enough to go to the bathroom without anyone’s help. He unknowingly locked the door behind him, and couldn’t unlock it when it was time to leave.

He started to panic, and called for help. His dad had to come in through the bathroom window and unlock the door from the inside.

“Thanks, Dad,” the boy said. And he ran out to play.

Now a lot of people today see God like the father in that story. We get in trouble, He comes in, bails us out, and sends us on our way. But what happens when God doesn’t unlock the door? What happens when our friends betray us, our finances take a nosedive, or our health worsens?

When we’re locked in that dark room, God still climbs in. But instead of quickly unlocking the door, He sits with us because spending time with Him is more important than quickly getting on with our lives.

So instead of praying, “Get me outta here!” when hard times hit, ask God to sit with you and show you something even greater than a quick fix – His presence.

Prayer Challenge:

Pray and ask God to show you His presence in the midst of your trials.

Questions for Thought:
Why do you think people typically choose a quick fix instead of searching for God in their trials?

How do you think your attitude toward hard times might change if you focused on finding God’s presence?