Make Your Requests To God

I had to go to the DMV last Monday. I had to get a “real” license, because the current license I had was considered invalid and I couldn’t use it to board an airplane here in the U.S. I was dreading it. I hate the DMV. With my kids trying to get their licenses, I’ve been to the DMV too many times to count. Either we forgot some piece of paper or the kids didn’t pass their tests.

So Monday morning I found myself in the lovely DMV. And the DMV is “lovely.” They move so quickly and are so friendly there. (Said with tongue firmly planted in cheek). In case you didn’t catch my sarcastic humor-the DMV is not lovely or friendly or very swift for that matter. They seem to take a really, really, really long time doing anything. Each time I’ve gone (with an appointment), I usually spend at least an hour and a half.

So there I was amidst very angry looking people. Look around the DMV, next time you are there, people are not happy. The place was soooo crowded. I had an appointment, but I still had to wait in a line. It was a smaller line than the no appointment line, but nevertheless a line. When I finally got my turn, I handed over all the important paperwork. The DMV worker sent me to the waiting area to wait some more until they called my number. The waiting area was crowded. There weren’t many chairs and the chairs were close together and there was someone sitting in each of them. I managed to snag a seat next to a lady and began to wait.

Now here I sat, in a crowded DMV, surrounded by angry people. It was so loud in there, you could hardly hear yourself think. So what did I do? I began to pray. Right there, in the midst of a government agency (there’s supposed to be a separation of church and state, you know). But I began to enter into the presence of the Lord. I began to speak to the most high. Despite all the noise and angry people I started praying. I prayed that this DMV visit would go well, that I could get it all done and that I didn’t forget anything. I’ve been to enough DMVs to know that is almost always not the case – getting it all done in one visit.

They called my name. I handed over my paperwork. The DMV worker looked at my paperwork and said that my license is up for renewal in a few months and asked me if I would like to renew it right now while I’m here. He paused to tell me I would have to take a test.

I cringed inside of myself. A test? I had been taking the tests on line along side my kids to see how well I would do. I didn’t do well. None of the questions have anything to do with driving. I have been driving for over thirty-five years and couldn’t answer the questions. I’m supposed to know what are the consequences for abandoning an animal on the side of the road. How should I know? Or, what the legal amount of alcohol can be in a person’s system to drive. I don’t drink and I’m not a cop. I hesitantly told the DMV worker that I would go ahead and take the test. He sent me over to another line to get my picture taken. So what did I do? I began to pray. Here I was, standing in a line, in a noisy DMV, talking to God again. “Lord please help me pass this test.”

After they took my picture, I had to wait in another line to take the test. They called my name again, and I went to the computer to do the deed. I quickly prayed another prayer, “Please Lord, help me pass this test.”

And guess what? I passed the test.

For me, I tend to think I need to wait to pray. It needs to be in a quiet place where I can focus on what I’m doing. It needs to be in a reverent place, not a government building. But that’s the beauty of a believer’s walk with the Lord, we can pray anywhere, anytime for anything. The Apostle Paul said to pray without ceasing. So that’s what I’m doing. And do you know what? I not only passed that test, but I managed to get it all done in 50 minutes.