Prayer is an incredible gift. It’s more than just a habit or routine—it’s a lifeline. We pray because we believe in a higher power, and we know that prayer can change things in ways beyond our control. Sometimes, when we feel powerless and uncertain, prayer is our way of calling on God to intervene.
The Bible tells us, “The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). We pray because we
know that prayer works. It may not always provide the answers we expect,
but it always yields results. I’ve had many moments in my life where I can
testify to this truth.
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| 2009 |
Testimony: Healing a Constantly Running Nose
After my accident in 2009, while I was in the hospital, I
struggled with what seemed like a minor issue—a constantly running nose.
My nose would run like a creek, literally every time I moved my head, NO
exaggeration, and it went on for weeks. Every night, I soaked an entire
washcloth, which kept me awake. It was aggravating, and I couldn’t understand
why it was happening or when it would stop.
One night, lying in bed, I prayed. It wasn’t a grand prayer,
just a simple, heartfelt request for God to help with this ongoing problem. The
Bible promises, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great
and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). And He
did. The next morning, I woke up, and my nose had stopped running—just like
that, after weeks of struggle, it was gone.
Testimony: Regaining Bathroom Function
Another powerful moment in my recovery was related to a
deeply personal issue—regaining control over my bathroom functions. After the
accident, doctors told me I had to use catheters due to my brainstem injury,
which affected that part of my body. They didn’t know if my body would ever
manage that function again.
God, however, knew the challenges I faced, and He answered a
prayer I hadn’t even deeply considered. Without any medical explanation, I
suddenly regained the ability to go to the bathroom normally, no longer needing
catheters. The Bible says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in
prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). God knew I
couldn’t handle a lifelong struggle with this on top of everything else I was
facing. In His perfect timing, He answered that prayer.
Trusting God When Prayers Seem Unanswered
It’s easy to feel discouraged when our prayers don’t seem to
be answered right away. But I’ve learned that if I haven’t seen an answer,
it doesn’t mean God hasn’t heard me—it means I need to wait. Scripture
tells us, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen
thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). Waiting can
be the hardest part, especially in a time when we expect instant
results.
However, God’s timing is not ours. His ways are far beyond
our understanding. The Bible reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). We must trust that God is
working on our behalf, even when we don’t see immediate results.
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| 2009 |
Waiting is not valued much in today’s society, but it is
crucial in our relationship with God. When we rush ahead and try to fix things
ourselves, we often make things worse. Instead of placing our hands on every
situation, we need to let go and trust God. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust
in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In
all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Waiting on the Lord allows Him to work perfectly in our
lives. Rushing can interfere with His plans. God sees the bigger picture and
knows when and how to answer our prayers in ways that are best for us.
The Question of Unanswered Prayers
Many question the point of prayer when their requests go
unanswered, or aren’t answered in the way they expected. But here’s something
to consider—if we’ve already decided what we want God to say, are we truly
praying? True prayer involves submitting our desires to God and trusting
Him to answer in the best way, even if it’s not what we envisioned. (Ouch, you
read that right). The Bible tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God”
(Psalm 46:10). Sometimes, we need to be silent, listen for His voice,
and wait.
Prayer is not about getting what we want; it’s about
aligning ourselves with God’s will. When we pray, we must trust that He knows
what is best for us and won’t withhold any good thing. We should follow Jesus’
example: “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). We must
let go of our expectations and allow God to move as He sees fit.
The Story of Lazarus: God’s Timing
God’s timing is not ours, and we see this clearly in the
story of Lazarus. Lazarus had been dead and in the grave for four days, but
Jesus wasn’t worried. He said Lazarus was just sleeping (John 11:11). The same
principle applies to our prayers. Just because we don’t see an answer
immediately doesn’t mean God isn’t working behind the scenes.
The Bible tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith
means believing even when we can’t see the answer. I’ve prayed many prayers
that I’m still waiting for answers to, but I continue in faith, trusting that
God is working in His timing.
The Importance of Intercessory Prayer
Many of my victories and healings have come through the
prayers of others on my behalf. The Bible calls us to pray for one another
(James 5:16), and I believe that intercessory prayers have been a key part of
my journey. When someone asks you to pray for them, take it seriously. They are
counting on those prayers, and God hears them.
Praying for God’s Will
Sometimes, it’s hard to pray for God’s will because we fear
it might not align with our desires. But the Bible says we must not pray amiss
(James 4:3). God knows what we need better than we do, and He won’t withhold
any good thing from us. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).
Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed, “Not my will,
but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). That’s the mindset we must adopt.
We need to trust God’s plan for us, even when it’s difficult. The Bible
promises that if we seek Him first, everything else will fall into place
(Matthew 6:33).
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| 2022 |
Before my accident, I had a dream of becoming a teacher.
After the accident, I had to trust God to help me fulfill that desire in His
way and time. In His wisdom, He allowed me to achieve that dream even more
fully than I imagined, by giving me the opportunity to operate my own
homeschool. When we seek God’s will, He often blesses us beyond what we can
envision.
Keep Praying
Whether you’re praying for something big or small, know that God hears you. “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). He knows your heart and responds. Every prayer may not be answered as we hope, but we can trust that God is always at work, even in the little things.
I have many stories where prayer brought peace, healing, and
strength when I had none. I want to encourage you to keep praying. God is
listening, and He cares.
Do you have a testimony to share with me? We are overcomers
by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11).
Be encouraged. 🧡 Give this a listen: Don't Stop Praying
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