“Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So, I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
Mark 9:17b–18
Think about a time you’ve asked, you’ve cried, you’ve pleaded, you’ve prayed and you’ve waited while your suffering or a loved one’s suffering persists.
It’s easy to understand this father’s saying:
“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
Mark 9:22b
Jesus responded:
“If I can?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
Mark 9:23
And the father instantly cried out:
“I do believe but help me overcome my unbelief.”
Mark 9:24
That is our prayer today. In our waiting . . . when life is hard and it doesn’t make sense . . . when we need and want stronger faith . . . pray:
Lord, I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!
Because even when we believe He can, we can doubt His heart. Growing in faith and trusting God’s love is an ongoing process that requires daily prayer, surrender, and reliance on God’s promises.
Pray When You Want Stronger Faith
Pray with me.
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming and living here with us. Thank you for loving us and willingly dying to save us. And thank you for giving me the gift of faith.
I believe You are my Lord and Savior. I believe You are God alone and I believe that anything is possible for You. But I confess that when life is hard and my heart hurts . . . when my wait is long, I want and need stronger faith.
Lord, I believe! Please help me overcome doubt and fear. I believe that nothing is too difficult for You and I ask You to please give me everything I need today to simply trust that You are who You say You are that I might obey Your will. I give myself to You. And I believe Your grace is sufficient for whatever You allow. Amen.
When the disciples questioned why they were unable to help this man and his son, Jesus said:
“This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
Mark 9:29
Prayer is the key that unlocks faith in our life. Effective prayer needs both the attitude of complete dependence and the action of asking. Prayer demonstrates our reliance on God as we humbly invite Him to fill us with faith and power.
Life Application Bible Notes
When life feels overwhelming and the enemy taunts us with the doubt of “what if” questions . . . prayer is the answer.
Stronger faith begins with a humble prayer of surrender to the promise that with God who loves perfectly and unfailingly…
Anything is possible!
On today’s note write:
I believe anything is possible!
And even if His answer to our prayer is “no” or “not yet,” He is able to give us everything we need to live with faith, hope, and love one moment at a time.
God bless you as you give yourself to the One for whom anything is possible.
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It seems that so many of the people I talk with lately are overwhelmed with feelings of frustration and discouragement. They feel like they’ve been praying for months or longer and their waiting never seems to end. And that’s just addressing the current year’s problems.
Many of us have things we’ve prayed about for years and years wondering when or if we will ever receive a positive answer to our pleas.
Typically, I can persistently pray with an “it is what it is” attitude . . . which is my way to trying to cope as I tell myself I’m trying to be patient. But other times, my waiting overwhelms me and I wonder if I should just give up and quit bombarding the gates of heaven with this particular petition.
Maybe you’ve been there . . . or maybe you’re there right now.
Recently, I read the following words…
“Is anything too hard for the Lord.”
Genesis 18:14
God spoke them to Abraham.
Why?
Because for Abraham the wait had been long and he had begun to wonder … to quit hoping.
Can you blame him? I sure can’t.
He was almost one hundred years old and Sarah was almost ninety when the Lord visited them and told them they were about to finally have the son they had been promised decades earlier.
Can you imagine?! It’s no wonder really that Abraham questioned and Sarah laughed. You and I probably would have done the same.
And that’s when the Lord replied, “Is anything too hard for the Lord.”
But that’s not the only example of God doing the impossible . . . look at Jeremiah…
God told Jeremiah to buy a field just north of Jerusalem and Jeremiah obeyed but he also questioned…
O Sovereign Lord, You have told me to buy the field—paying good money for it before these witnesses—even though the city will soon be handed over to the Babylonians.
Jeremiah 32:25
God told Jeremiah to buy a field near Jerusalem as a promise that He would bring the people home . . . 70 years later.
Imagine God asking you to buy a home in an area that He has also told you is about to be captured and almost all of the people including you are going to be taken captive and hauled away to another country.
You might be wondering . . . WHY?
Seriously, even if some of the people do come back there’s no guarantee that the property deed will even be acknowledged.
So, once again, God patiently and lovingly replied to doubt with the words…
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?“
Jeremiah 32:27
Sarah, Abraham, and Jeremiah all learned that the answer to the question is always…
No!NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD!
With God . . . ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!
Abraham and Sarah had a son and God’s people returned home.
But throughout those decades of waiting, I would imagine there were many times they wondered if they’d heard God correctly, times when they began to doubt, and even times when their hope began to fade.
Maybe you can relate, I know I can.
When you and I have something or several somethings that we’ve prayed about for years … even decades. The wait is long and hard and possibly even painful. We can get discouraged and even start questioning if we misunderstood and we should just give up hope and stop our persistent praying.
Today, I want to remind you, and me too, of two very important truths.
1. Anything is Possible
Nothing! Absolutely nothing is too hard for God!
Not your broken relationship. Not your illness. Not your loneliness. Not your broken heart. Not your doubts. Not the state of the world. Not the desires of your heart.
Not fires, or climates, or chaos, or anything else this broken world has to offer.
With God, anything and everything is possible.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Matthew 19:26
I do believe even Abraham, Sarah, Jeremiah, and others would all admit that waiting is hard. Which leads to point number two. I’m grabbing hold of verses to hold close when the wait is hard, when my heart is heavy and doubt creeps in because God’s Word tells us exactly what to do in those moments.
2. Never Stop Praying
Having a prayerful attitude acknowledges our total dependence on God. Persistent prayer is an expression of child-like faith.
Paul wrote…
Never stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
And Luke shared the following two accounts where Jesus told His disciples about the importance of persistent prayer. 1. Luke 11:5–13 and 2. Luke 18:1–8
Luke 18 begins like this…
One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 18:1
He went on to tell them about a widow who went to a judge day and night pleading with him to rule in her favor over a dispute she was having with her enemy. And the judge finally does…
Finally, he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
Luke 18:4–5
Jesus not only invites but encourages us to be persistent when we pray.
The Life Application Bible Notes describe persistent prayer the following way…
Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for Him day by day believing He will answer. Then live by faith and don’t give up. God may delay answering but His delays always have good reasons. And as we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope. (LAB notes for Luke 18:1)
Remember…
All things are possible with God!
Mark 10:27
Jesus promised…
I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
Luke 11:9
And Paul, the one who was persecuted, stoned, beaten, whipped, and imprisoned wrote…
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen
Ephesians 3:20–21
He also wrote…
Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations.
Romans 4:18
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12:12
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:4
And the writer of Hebrews wrote…
This High Priest [Jesus] of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:15-16
And…
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.
Hebrews 10:23
Friend, when you and I have to wait. When we feel discouraged and want to give up . . . God is faithful. He has promised to always give us what we need.
And I don’t know about you, but what I need most is…
Faith to trust that God is doing what is best even when it doesn’t feel like it. Forgiveness when I fall short of His will for me. Hope to trust Him and never give up. Peace to calm me when life overwhelms me. Patience to remain persistent in prayer. Strength to keep doing what He calls me to do each day. Wisdom to know His will and make godly decisions. Comfort to get me out of bed when my heart hurts. Guidance to know His will and the ability to obey Him. Courage to face the day when I want to hide in bed. Love to give Him and others. And Jesus, who is all you and I need today and eternally.
David wrote…
You, Lord, are all I have, and You give me all I need; my future is in Your hands.
Psalm 16:5
And Paul wrote…
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20
I know waiting is hard and sometimes waiting with hope seems impossible. It’s understandable that you and I can take our eyes off Jesus and stare straight at our unchanged circumstances. Yes, even wonder if we should just give up and stop bothering God with the same repetitive need.
But then … when we stop and reread Jesus’ words about God’s “anything is possible” love and our persistent prayer . . . we remember that He sometimes allows us to wait because He is working on our hearts.
So, will you join me as I continue to pray the words of Jeremiah…
“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You!”
Jeremiah 32:17
Whatever you’re waiting on today . . . never stop praying because with God, anything is possible!
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I sometimes try to picture how it must have looked…
The Philistines camped on one side and the Israelites on the other.
The enemy army had a giant—Goliath … the Bible describes him like this:
He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds … the shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.
1 Samuel 17:4b–5,7
Day after day for 40 days, Goliath strutted in front of the Israelite army to taunt and terrify them…
“I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves. I defy the armies of Israel today. Send me a man who will fight me!”
1 Samuel 17: 8–9
And no one volunteered! The Bible describes them as “terrified and deeply shaken.” I can’t really blame them.
But then…
This teenager showed up.
You know the rest … but if you’d like, you can read the whole narrative in 1 Samuel 17.
Lately, I’ve been thinking that I don’t necessarily believe David had more strength and courage than Saul, his brothers, or anyone else standing on that hillside.
But he did have confidence in God’s ability to give him everything he needed to win this battle.
If he needed strength and courage to fight a giant and help to save the nation … God would give it to him. He said…
“This pagan Philistine … has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
1 Samuel 17:36b–37
And that’s what you and I need, isn’t it?
We need to KNOW and TRUST the One who is able to meet our every need … even when what we need is strength to fight what appears to be an impossible battle.
We need God’s help to do the impossible!
You see, it’s not about who I am or who you are. It’s not even about the battle itself.
It is always and only about the God who loves us so much that He died for us to give us what we need most. Paul wrote:
Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?
Romans 8:32
Jesus and “everything else!”
As Jesus described it … everything you need. So, I’m going to the Lord today and I’m asking Him to give me sight that puts my giants in perspective. I’m asking Him to help me remember that my need is never beyond His loving care and ability to provide … even when the battle seems to be impossible.
I’d love for you to join me.
Pray When You Need God’s Help to Do the Impossible
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12–13
It’s scary right now, Father. The giant of fear taunts me. Threats of serious illness seem to be everywhere. Financial vulnerability makes us all wonder about the future. Schools and churches are closed and most of us are quarantined in our homes. I need Your help as I live through this situation.
I need You to help me “do everything” I need to do with strength, courage, and hope. Please give me Your perfect peace and help me remember that although I can’t see the future … you are already there. Grant me Your all-sufficient grace as I surrender this day to You.
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Corinthains 10:13
Father, so many of us keep saying that our current circumstances seem unprecedented. We’re struggling to understand this … it all feels so surreal, so unusual, so unsettling. But nothing is new or unexpected for You. You know the number of hairs on my head … You know what I’m going through now.
When the temptations of life feel overwhelming, help me remember Your faithfulness and give me what I need to endure today. When I’m tempted by fear … give me courage. When I’m tempted by worry … give me strength. When anxiety is great within me … give me Your peace. By Your grace and for Your glory.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Father, this may be one of my favorite promises. Those who “trust the Lord” will find the strength they need. That is my prayer! It’s easy to feel strong when I’m soaring through life … but when soaring becomes running and running becomes walking that feels more like staggering, You promise to give me what I need to keep moving forward.
You will help me do the impossible. So, I will trust in You, Lord, and with Your help, I will keep moving forward … sometimes staggering, sometimes walking and running, and sometimes by Your grace and with Your help – I will soar on wings like eagles.
See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.”
Isaiah 12:2
Father, You have given me the most important thing I will ever need … You saved me from sin, death, and the power of satan. Nothing is impossible for You. And by Your grace, I have everything I need today.
I trust You will give me strength to do the impossible because You have already given me victory in Jesus … a victory that lasts forever. Thank you for making me Your own. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for helping me trust You when I’m afraid.
Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:6–8
Father, thank you for hearing the cries of my heart. Thank you for all the times You have strengthened me in the past. I believe You will give me the strength I need today. I trust the absolute truth of Your promises. I trust Your love. I trust that You are who You say You are and that You always do what You say You will do. Thank you! I will praise You, Lord, with all I am for all my life, now and forever, by Your grace … I will live for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
When You Need God’s Help…
David did not face his battles alone. He trusted the Lord … not just with the battles but with his feelings about the battles as well.
I love reading the Psalms. They are full of honest emotions … his fears and frustrations. David turned to God for help with his problems and with his feelings about his problems.
When he needed God to help him do the impossible, he was open and honest … asking for God to give him what he needed in his circumstances and his attitudes.
And then…
He praised and thanked God for His grace and provision.
In the first Psalm David wrote, he said…
You are my strength; I wait for You to rescue me, for You, O God, are my fortress.
I will sing about Your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for You, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.
Psalm 59:9, 16–17
Our Savior is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) You and I can trust His love and turn to Him for help.
We can trust Him to not only do the impossible. Jesus said…
“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Matthew 19:26
And Paul wrote…
I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
And that same grace is available to you and me.
So, if you’re overwhelmed today as you deal with overwhelming circumstances. Please don’t give up. Like David, when you need God’s help, honestly go to Him with your situation and trust Him to give you everything you need to do the impossible.
And then get ready to thank and praise Him for once again showing you His unfailing love.
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Do you ever have times when your life’s circumstances seem impossible?
Times when … your relationship is broken, or you can’t find a job, or your child is rebellious, or you can’t break a long-held bad habit, or your pain or illness is worsening, and life is just plain hard?
Times when you wonder if the outcome you’re praying for is even possible?
I’ll be honest with you. I do, too!
I’ve had times when my heart was heavy and I felt like I’d prayed the same prayer request a thousand times. Even now, I have a few big prayers that I continue to pray even though nothing seems to change.
And in my sadness, I start to wonder if this prayer of my heart is even possible.
Jesus repeatedly told people that God is able to do the impossible…
“What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
Luke 18:27
And He also told people to…
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7
So, I’m praying today but I’m not only asking God to do the impossible … I’m believing that He CAN DO the IMPOSSIBLE!
And even though I’ve asked Him a thousand times before, I’m confident He will hear my prayer and respond in love!
Maybe you’d like to join me.
5 Verses to Pray When You Need God to Do the Impossible
“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You!”
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:17 & 27
Father, I go outside and see the beauty of Your creation. The sun, moon, and stars hung perfectly in place. Seas and land, mountains and valleys, plants and animals with countless variations all sustained in complete order by Your gracious hand.
Father, nothing is too hard for You!
You care for and protect Your children … body and soul.
Nothing is too hard for You!
I believe You are able to do the impossible and Father, and sometimes from my perspective, this problem appears impossible. But You are the God of possibilities! Please, Father, do what only You can do. Please help me by Your Grace. Amen.
He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!
Psalm 147:4–5
Father, You see me. You know me by name. And You love me! I am not just one of many … I am Your child. I am Your own.
There is nothing I can experience that is beyond Your understanding and comprehension. This battle I’m facing is known to You.
I believe You know what I need and that You will provide it. I understand that it may not be what I want … but it will always be what is best for me.
I also believe that if You ask me to wait or endure, You have promised to give me the strength and peace and everything else I need each day.
This is hard, Father, but You are great! Your power is absolute. Your grace is sufficient. Your love unfailing. Thank you! Amen.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20–21
Father, I need Your mighty power to work within me.
“Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!” (based on Mark 9:24)
I believe You are able to accomplish infinitely more than I might ask or think. As I fight this battle, please help me keep my eyes on You … not on the problem. Give me the courage and strength to surrender this situation to You. By Your grace, help me trust Your love for me and live with the confidence that You care about this even more than I do.
Father, You sacrificed everything to save me and show me the greatness of Your love.
I surrender this day to You. Help me in this wait to know with confidence that even though I can’t see it … You are at work doing what only You can do, things that will always be for my good and Your glory. Thank you, Father. Amen.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Mark 10:27
Oh, the reassurance of Jesus’ words, Father. Were it not for You … there would be no saving grace. Were it not for You … I would have no faith.
Because of You, Father, the impossible becomes possible. Being born again becomes reality. And love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control become blessings I enjoy because of Your Spirit within me. Thank you!
Your grace is sufficient! (2 Corinthians 12:9) And I have everything I need. (Psalm 23:1)
Father, there is no limit to what You can do. Your miracles touch the lives of Your children each and every day.
Please help me trust Your plan for me today. Help me follow where You lead and obey Your will as You reveal it to me. Help me to see Your miracles. Amen.
This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Father, As I face this problem, please help me remember all the ways You have provided for me.
You have met my needs in the past and I believe You will meet my needs today and every day in the future.
You have given me strength and courage when I was afraid. You gave me hope when my circumstances seemed hopeless. You have given me patience when my wait felt like it was too long. Whatever my need … You have a glorious rich supply.
Father, You’ve kept every promise You’ve ever made. I can and will trust You to keep Your promises in the future.
By Your grace, You’ve helped me love when I wanted to turn away. You’ve forgiven my broken past and given me all I need to forgive others. You’ve healed my broken heart and filled me up.
You’ve have given me Jesus! I have everything I need!
You truly are the God of possibilities! Absolutely nothing is impossible to You.
So, today, I will trust You with my needs, wants, and desires. And with Your help, I will surrender my pain and problems to Your perfect wisdom and care.
In Jesus name. Amen.
Whatever is going on in your life today…
God is able.
Rick Warren wrote…
Never let an impossible situation intimidate you. Let it motivate you – to pray more, trust more, expect more.
I want that…
I want to pray more, trust more, and expect more.
Because the truth is…
There are no impossible situations for the child of the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God because for our Father … nothing is impossible!
Thank you so much for joining me today.
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I get discouraged sometimes. Like you, I have a few things I’ve prayed about for YEARS and the wait continues.
Most of the time I can just keep praying them with a kind of “it is what it is” attitude … my way to trying to be okay with the situation. But other times, waiting is hard and I wonder if I should just quit bombarding the gates of heaven with this prayer.
It’s not that I don’t believe God is able but there are other people involved and well, people have free will.
I read these words the other day…
“Is anything too hard for the Lord.”
Genesis 18:14
The Lord spoke those words to Abraham.
Why?
Because Abraham had begun to wonder … to quit hoping.
Can you blame him? I sure can’t.
He was almost one hundred years old and Sarah was almost ninety when the Lord visited them and told them they were about to finally have the son they had been promised decades earlier.
Yep, Abraham questioned and Sarah laughed. I probably would have done the same.
And the Lord replied, “Is anything too hard for the Lord.”
Then look at the account of Jeremiah…
God told Jeremiah to buy a field just north of Jerusalem and Jeremiah obeyed but he also questioned…
O Sovereign Lord, you have told me to buy the field—paying good money for it before these witnesses—even though the city will soon be handed over to the Babylonians.
Jeremiah 32:25
God told Jeremiah to buy the field as a promise that He would bring the people home after 70 years.
Imagine God asking you to buy a home in an area that He has also told you is about to be captured and almost all of the people including you are going to be taken captive and hauled away to another country.
You might be wondering … WHY?
Seriously, even if some of the people do come back there’s no guarantee that property deed will even be acknowledged.
You might even be asking … WHY?
And that’s okay. Look at God’s patient loving reply…
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?“
Jeremiah 32:27
What Sarah, Abraham, and Jeremiah learned is the answer to that question is always…
No!
Nothing is too hard for God!
Abraham and Sarah had a son and God’s people returned home.
But throughout those decades of waiting, I would imagine there were many times when they wondered if they’d heard God right, times when they began to doubt, and even times when hope began to fade.
Maybe you can relate.
Maybe like me, you have something or several somethings, you’ve prayed about for years … even decades. The wait is long and hard … possibly even painful. You’re discouraged and even starting to question if you should be crying out to God day after day after day.
Today, I’m hear to remind you and me because truthfully, I need to hear it too…
Nothing is too hard for God!
Nothing! Absolutely nothing!
Your broken relationship is not too hard for God. Your illness is not too hard for God. Your loneliness is not too hard for God. Your broken heart is not too hard for God. Your doubts are not too hard for God. Your longings are not too hard for God.
Nothing is too hard for Him!
But in all honesty, waiting is hard. So, I’m grabbing hold of verses to hold close when the wait is hard, when my heart heavy and when doubt creeps in because God’s Word tells us exactly what to do in those moments.
Never stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Jesus told a story to teach His disciples this lesson.
Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 18:1
He went on to tell about a widow who goes to a judge night and day pleading with him to rule in her favor over a dispute with her enemy. And he finally does…
You and I can be persistent in our prayers.
The Life Application Bible Notes describe persistent prayer this way…
Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for Him day by day believing He will answer. Then live by faith and don’t give up. God may delay answering but His delays always have good reasons. And as we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope. (LAB notes for Luke 18:1)
Remember, Jesus also said…
All things are possible with God!
Mark 10:27
And…
I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
Luke 11:9
And Paul wrote…
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen
Ephesians 3:20–21
Paul, the one who was persecuted, stoned, beaten, whipped, and imprisoned.
And what does he say about hope?
Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations.
Romans 4:18
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12:12
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:4
And the writer of Hebrews wrote…
This High Priest [Jesus] of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:15-16
And…
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.
Hebrews 10:23
Friend, even while you and I wait. Even when we get discouraged and feel like giving up … God is faithful to give us what we need.
And I don’t know about you, but what I need is…
Faith to trust that God is doing what is best even when it doesn’t feel like it. Forgiveness when I fall short of His will for me. Hope to never give up. Peace to calm me when life overwhelms me. Patience to remain persistent in prayer. Strength to keep doing what He calls me to do each day. Wisdom to know His will and make godly decisions. Comfort to get me out of bed when my heart hurts. Guidance to know His will. Courage to face the day when I want to hide in bed. Love to give back to Him and give to others.
Jesus, all I need today and eternally.
David wrote…
You, Lord, are all I have, and You give me all I need; my future is in Your hands.
Psalm 16:5
And Paul wrote…
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20
I know waiting with hope is hard. And some days I too, take my eyes off Jesus and stare straight at the circumstances that are unchanged. Yes, I wonder if I should just give up and stop bothering God with the same old plea.
But then … I stop and I reread Jesus’ words about persistent prayer and I remember that He sometimes allows me to wait because He is busy working on my heart.
And as He works on my heart I will continue to pray the words of Jeremiah…
“O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by Your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for You!”
Jeremiah 32:17
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