Which prayer requests are ‘trivial’?

Central America (VBB/MNN) — Have you ever asked God for silverware? Maybe not. Maybe you feel like a lot of people, that asking God for little stuff is just too trivial to matter.

But what happens when God answers those little prayer requests? Often, you grow in the confidence that not only is God faithful, but also that He hears, answers, and cares about every aspect of your life.

That’s what the most recent Vision Beyond Borders team experienced in Central America. The team shared some of the highlights from their recent trip into a closed country.

Heading into the visit, there were concerns that supplies they were carrying could be confiscated. First answer: the team arrived with all of the Bibles and Gospel materials they took; government agents seized nothing.

The team traveled to visit a large church of approximately 1,000 members. It was a poor church, and the poverty was evident. When the team asked what they could do to help, the pastor shared the church’s desire to reach more children, but that they had no money for it.

They really needed teaching and training materials for the children. The dream? Flannel graphs. In countries where many are illiterate and oral tradition is strong, people use pictorial literature to teach their history. Flannel graphs were created to communicate the Gospel and history of the Bible. The pastor told the team the church was praying for three flannel graphs to teach the children God’s Word. VBB had been distributing kits along the way and thought there might be some in their vehicle. He went out to check and found three flannel graph kits for the church: God’s second answer.

As the trip wound down to a close, the VBB team dropped by a church they had sent a box of supplies to earlier. They celebrated with the church as they opened the box…and found silverware. A random extra? Not random at all. The church was thrilled! They said they had been praying for silverware, and the box came in response to their prayers. Third answer.

What it means is that when this church says to their community, “God supplies all our needs,” a fork will remind everyone that even in the small things, God is faithful.

VBB is sending Bible supply teams to closed countries where they have church partners every month from now until the end of the year. Ask God where He might be directing you next. His answer could surprise you.