“Okay, Lord, here we go…”

By: Meg Glenn

Some of my most honest prayers have begun exactly this way. My prayers aren’t ever super eloquent, but the ones that begin with a deep breath and these five words have a “buckle up” feel about them.

Looking back on some of those prayers, it’s almost like I thought I needed to prep God, asking Him to get ready for something big.

As if He wasn’t already aware.

As if He was just arriving on the scene.

I’m grateful He is way ahead of me every time, just waiting for me to catch up.

Three days before my 33rd birthday, my husband Jimmy and I sat in my doctor’s office, hearing that a polyp removed during a routine wellness exam contained cancer cells. We were stunned. As I reached for the doorknob to leave, Jimmy and I looked at each other, terrified, and I whispered, “Okay, Lord, here we go.” It was not just a voice in my head that day – it was out loud. It was a Friday, so we had the weekend to stew on the news.

I am so thankful for His faithfulness in the weeks that followed. He opened the door to an oncology surgeon on Monday morning – the next business day (that never happens, right?), and I had surgery two days later. Our people carried us through the excruciating week waiting for the pathology reporting. We were able to exhale when we heard the word CONTAINED, and that I needed no further treatment beyond recovering from surgery.

God knew that all along – He didn’t need to buckle up for that. He was already there and faithful to me.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23 ESV)

When Jimmy went to his first stress test, we talked about whether I should go with him. We both thought it was no big deal. The technician, a dear friend God placed in just the right spot that day, called a couple of hours later to tell me they were prepping Jimmy for a heart stent. I was over an hour away, and as I drove across town trying to get there before they took him back, that familiar phrase began my prayers.

“Okay, Lord, here we go.”

Time and again, I’ve prayed that sentence. And every single time, He is not surprised. He is always faithful to me, just waiting for me to catch up.

Through job changes for both Jimmy and me, dark moments in our marriage and big celebrations, our God has been faithful through it all.

Some of those seasons have been hard, and uncertainty has weighed on us. We had weak moments in those hard times, and moments where we were just tired.

You can relate to those hard seasons, right? The path gets rocky. But I am so grateful he is faithful and already walking alongside, maybe even carrying me, when I call out to Him.

Changing to a new church, having to put ourselves out there to meet new people. Layoffs at work, a worldwide pandemic. I don’t pretend we’ve sailed along like Polly-Anna (which I imagine looks like Minnie Pearl in her straw hat). I stumble, waver, and flip-flop. Often.

Walking through the lobby of Northside not long after we moved to Murfreesboro and I took on a new role at work, there was a big sign on the wall, and it felt almost as if it were placed there just for me that day.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Do you find yourself facing something that hit you in the face, seemingly out of nowhere? Are you caring for aging parents or children, facing something where there doesn’t seem to be a playbook?

Say it with me – “Okay, Lord, here we go.”

I find myself in another season of big changes.

When I was presented with a voluntary retirement offer, I prayed that familiar refrain again.

I loved working in an office, especially the opportunities to connect with people, and contributing to meaningful work where I saw how it mattered. Stepping away from what was comfortable, and into the unknown, the Lord has been so faithful in revealing new purpose for me, calming me in anxious, uncertain moments and opening new ways to connect with different people. I thought I needed to prep Him as my situation changed. Instead, He has been saying, “Buckle, up.”

When I prayed about serving in a different position for a charity I love, I again felt the Lord nudging me to step out of my comfort zone. The process included a committee interview with over two dozen deep questions to prepare.

Interviews are intimidating. What happens next depends on me, but also on them. What if they don’t like me, or think I said something silly? What if they’re exhausted, or under-caffeinated and struggling to concentrate? What if they don’t get me?

I logged on for the interview. Deep breath.

“Okay, Lord, here we go.”

I’m still figuring it all out. When I am at a loss, I am grateful for a God who is close in all things, whose faithfulness and love reach beyond the highest mountains, all the way to the heavens. A God who is always waiting, who might even be smiling as he says:

“Okay, daughter, here we go.”

“Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” (Psalms 36:5 NIV)