Robyn Carrillo
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Press 1 for Prayer

4/13/2015

12 Comments

 
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            It is frustrating to make a phone call and get trapped in the endless automated system. Hearing the robot lady’s voice say over and over:

Press 1 for this.

Press 2 for that.

Press 3 to leave a message.

Press 4 to return to the main menu.

            She asks for my account number, but then when a real live customer service rep  answers they ask for the number again, like it was just a stall tactic by the robot lady. I have started immediately saying, “customer service rep” as soon as the robot lady starts speaking. Even then she will say, “I understand you want to speak to a customer service rep. If your question is about this, press 1. If it is about that, press 2.” Aaugh!

            Recently I was at the hospital for my son’s surgery. They needed me to call my insurance company and find out what I owed. It seemed like a simple request, surely there was a simple answer.

            First, my husband called. I could tell by his deliberate answers he was talking to the robot lady. After 20 minutes he gave up and said it was my turn. I called. I answered all the robot lady’s questions just like he did. Finally, I tried to override her and said,

“Customer service! Customer service! Customer service!”

Somehow this baffled the robot lady and she sent me back to the main menu.

“If this is a medical emergency, hang up and dial 911.”

“If this is a mental health emergency, press 1.”

            That was interesting. They must have added the mental health option, because after being on hold for 20 minutes they knew there would be a mental health emergency.

            Finally, she said, “You are caller number 14. Press 1 to leave a message and someone will call you back. Press 2 to continue holding.”

Since this was not my first rodeo with the robot lady, I knew better than to leave my number. I tried that before and nobody ever called back. I lost my place in line and had to call again and wait another 20 minutes.

            Sometimes I think we view prayer like that. We call God and we want to:

Press 1 to have a good day

Press 2 to bless the food.

Press 3 for help on a test.

Press 4 for God to be with us.

Press 5 for a close parking spot.

And if we have a bigger request we become frustrated when we have to wait longer than 20 minutes for the answer.

            Prayer is so much more than that. God is not a robot guy dispensing immediate answers. Prayer is talking to our heavenly Father who loves us more than we can understand, about things that truly matter to us. It should be like a continuous conversation with our best friend. It is more about our relationship with God, our love for Him, our reliance on Him, and our faith in Him than it is about Him blessing our food.

            I never did get through to a real person that day in the hospital. No doubt they will bill me what we owe for the surgery. Thankfully, God never puts us on hold or makes us wait to get through to Him. He is always with us, always hears us and truly cares about the details of our life.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

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Don’t you love that God always hears us when we talk to Him?

          

12 Comments
Anita Ojeda link
4/15/2015 02:31:03 am

Oh, you hit me on a raw spot there, my friend! I detest above all else talking to insurance people--regardless of whether or not a robot lady is at the other end...My husband does not understand this. I get too emotional. I cry and slobber all over the phone whilst trying to explain things to people who don't understand and I wish that I could just talk to them in person or write a letter. Sigh. But yes, you are correct. All to often we forget that God is not a heavenly dispenser of bountiful blessings. We are created in his image--and if we crave relationship--how much more does he crave it?

Reply
Robyn
4/15/2015 04:04:17 am

I'm totally with you Anita. Uuugh. It can be so frustrating, and it can take up so much time.

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Tara
4/15/2015 03:14:52 am

Robyn, love this post. I think you are so right. We often treat prayer like that; press 1 for this, 2 for that etc. I'm trying to remember that prayer is not at all like calling and get a robot.

Reply
Robyn
4/15/2015 11:44:01 am

Ok Tara, I replied to you but it went down to the bottom of the list. LOL! I'm still trying to figure this new website out. I appreciate your thoughts.

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Susan Shipe link
4/15/2015 04:52:30 am

Love this! LOL - the robot lady!!!

Reply
Robyn
4/15/2015 11:37:41 am

;)

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0Bethany link
4/15/2015 05:47:20 am

Oh YES!!! I've been lost in these systems SO MANY TIMES!!!! I get beyond frustrated! I love how we can just dial-in our attention to God and He is ALL there, with us...in and for us. It's INCREDIBLE!!! Your post is SO easy to read my friend! LOVE this!!!!!

Reply
Robyn
4/15/2015 11:38:50 am

Thanks Bethany! I appreciate it!

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~Karrilee~ link
4/15/2015 06:06:41 am

What a great picture... (and relatable, because - hello? We all hate those phone systems!) and yes - I am SO thankful that He always hears us! It's such a comfort to know that He is on our side!

Reply
Robyn
4/15/2015 11:42:00 am

Yes I am thankful He always hears us, no matter what we say or how we are praying to Him.

Reply
Robyn
4/15/2015 11:36:37 am

Me too Tara. It is so easy to fall into that when praying, just to bring Him my laundry list of needs.

Reply
Esther Hampton link
12/6/2020 08:13:48 pm

Interestinng read

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    Robyn Carrillo

    Hi, I'm Robyn! Welcome! If you are looking for encouragement in your walk with the Lord you came to the right place. Stay awhile, look around, join the conversation. I pray you will leave with a smile on your face and Sonshine in your heart!

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