Let's Bake a Cake

I recently was working with a client who was struggling with prayer and healing. She shared that she was praying constantly and God was just not showing up. I sat with this individual and I listened to her share about the many things that were going on in her life. She shared about her prayer life and that at times she was begging God to show up in the mess that was happening around her. I asked her if she had ever baked a cake.

Before I continue let me just say, I believe that God has placed the people I work with in my path for a reason. I know that I am an odd practitioner but I have learned to embrace the process of showing up for people in their messiest times. Sometimes showing up for people means being real with them, not clinical. I like to think that I work for some, and it's completely okay that I do not work for everyone. What do people say? "I'm not everyone's cup of tea." But for the client's who stick around and allow me to show up for them in their life, together we tackle things that help clear a path for healing. So I asked my client if she had ever baked a cake. And she looked at me with eyes wide open. I know in her mind she was thinking, "I'm telling her about all the mess, the prayers going unanswered, the hard, and she asked me if I've ever baked a cake." She willingly said, "Yes" but with complete hesitation which is acceptable in this moment. Why'd I ask her this question? I'll tell you. Prayer sometimes is like baking a cake. When you've decided that you want a cake, God does not always put a cake right in front of you. (Of course there are those instances that we go to a friend's house and there on the kitchen table is a cake. I'm not talking about those times). Sometimes when God answers prayers He does so in a way that prepares you for the answer. When you want a cake, sometimes God gives you the means to drive to the grocery store. He then gives you the means to wander up and down the aisles to get the ingredients. Sometimes God winks at you and gives you information such as, "yea get the dark chocolate," before you were even thinking about dark chocolate. God then gives you the means to pay for the ingredients, get home, make the cake, and enjoy it. As my client and I talked about this, her shoulders dropped, her jaw loosened, and she let out a breathe of air that she had been holding for quite some time. And she looked relieved. She acknowledged that when she was praying she was hoping that God would just solve it, but what she walked away with was knowledge that God is present and that He often gives her the tools and resources to solve it herself. This is a lot like managing depression and anxiety. I can imagine that everyone would likely want Him to remove the symptoms, the hurt, the pain, the struggles that depression and anxiety cause. And when He does not remove it, there is sometimes a grief towards Him. But what if, He was sitting with you with the symptoms, the hurt, the pain, the struggles that depression and anxiety cause, AND He was showing you little moments that could help but you had to make the first move? Maybe He sent a breezy sunshine day for you to get outside and walk for a moment. Maybe He sent a friend's text message that checked in on you. Sometimes He shows you the way to the cake, but does not give you the cake. Both are answered prayers.

The next time you are struggling, and you are wondering if He hears you, try baking a cake.