Retiring Polka Dot Suitcases: When God Answers Unprayed Prayers

It’s time to retire the polka dots.

I dragged my red polka dot suitcase behind me. My suitcases have aged over a decade. I am not the same girl who walked out of my house three years ago to fly to the States for college, but my suitcases are the same (minus two wheels and a zipper).

It was time to let the faded and worn out luggage go, but my wallet disagreed. Have you seen the price tags on luggage? No thanks.

Getting new luggage was something I needed to do, since I have been traveling every few months (or every few weeks). It was something important to me, but not important enough to pray for.

Little things like that matter to us, but do they really matter enough to bother God for?

For years, God has consistently answered my unprayed prayers. He proved again and again that He notices the details and He notices my needs. He blesses me far beyond what I think to ask for.

I’ve been staying with my grandparents in breath-taking Angel Fire, New Mexico. Tomorrow morning, we’re driving to Los Lunas where I’ll spend my last two nights before flying to France.

A few minutes ago, my grandparents pulled out a complete set of beautiful sky-blue suitcases. They had only used these suitcases once or twice. They insisted that if I wanted to, I should keep the entire set.

I hadn’t asked them for this. I hadn’t even asked God for it. I’d put it off as something I could figure out later. Instead God handed more than I could have wished for. He has completely provided for my every need and answered countless of my unprayed prayers.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11

God is in control, and He notices your needs (no matter how big or small they are). In Matthew 5, Jesus commands us to go the second mile when we are commanded to go one. God’s love is so much more than just going the second mile. Before you can even ask for the first, He grabs your hand and flies you to France. With my sky-blue suitcases in hand, I’m ready to go.

I might sit alone in the airport and on the airplane, but no matter how far I go, I never travel alone.

God—the One who chose to shade the sky blue, the One who shifts the wind through the grass, the One who was here first and who will be here last—goes with me.

He is a good and kind Father who notices the smallest details and who listens to our unprayed prayers, even if they are just about polka dot suitcases.