A Little Black Bag

I walked up to the door and mumbled a quick prayer...silently.

"Lord, please let me find one for less money."

Purse shopping.

That's all explanation you need.

My husband was with me and that explains the silent part.

I walked to the door with my heart already set on a beautiful black bag. I spotted it months ago draped around a friend's shoulder. I found it online, tracked it down to a local store, and I had come to claim it.

I prayed anyway.

We walked in and there in front of me was the answer to my prayer. I looked the other way.

Now, where is my bag?

My heart was set.

I sent my husband one way, and I went the other. Divide and conquer was our method.

From across the store floor my husband held up the answer to my prayer.

"Babe, how about this one?"

No, that's not it. Keep looking.

It wasn't there. The bag I'd been dreaming about for months was not there.

But there, sitting right in front of me was the answer to my prayer. It was the bag that caught my eye as soon as I walked in the door. It was the same bag my husband happily held up and called my attention to.

It was lovely. It was the other bag. It was the perfect size. It was just what I needed. It was the answer to the prayer I silently whispered—it was cheaper.

Why couldn't I just accept it? It's what I prayed for, but it was not what I wanted.

I stood in the mirror. Moved it from shoulder to shoulder and back again. What a beautiful bag.

It was not the one I watched online for months or the one I watched my friend toss around. But it may as well of had my name on it. The one I wanted was not even there, which was just another clue.

The reality of what God had waiting for me, was clearly different than what I had already had my heart set on.

I had to let it go. My bag. I decided to let it go.

I'll buy this one, maybe I'll return it. It’s the other bag.

I still have it. It's perfect.

It’s my answered prayer.

Are you dreaming one thing while regretfully mumbling a prayer for another?

What are you looking for over there, when God has clearly placed exactly what you have asked for right in front of you?

Stop looking. Just grab it!