While I was riding my bike across town one morning, my pant leg got caught on the chainring, and I was thrown down hard onto the street. I was able to get up and pull my bike to the sidewalk, but any movement of my arm at the elbow joint caused tremendous pain. 

I was in a hurry, as I was preparing to catch a flight to a friend’s wedding, so I rode home, but found I couldn’t easily change my clothes or pack my suitcase. I was supposed to be a groomsman in the wedding, and I didn’t know if I’d be capable of doing the job. I poured out my heart to God for comfort and guidance. My prayers led me to stick with the plan to get to my flight, trusting that God would have an answer each step of the way. I called my uncle to help me get ready and to drive me to the airport.

On the plane, I sat still and prayed quietly, grateful for the reprieve from physical movement. Prayer for me is about allowing God to become larger than anything else in my thinking. I get myself back to the big picture, remembering that to love and honor God is really the only important thing to do. As Jesus prayed, “This is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth” (John 17:3, New Living Translation).