Day 4: He Hears Our Prayers, and He is Always Working.

In our family, we believe in the power of prayer and that if God wants to heal Jane, He can. So, for the last nine years of her life, we have been praying for Jane's healing along with our family and church. It's probably clear to you at this point that we have not quite seen the healing we have been asking for, and sometimes you can even wonder, "God, do you even hear us?"

The Word answers this question for us in Daniel 10 when the angel of God comes to Daniel and lets him know, "Sorry I was delayed, but I heard your prayer from the moment you prayed it." Wow. We may never know why God allows delays. We may never know why God allows sickness on earth. But we do know that our Heavenly Father is not passive or ignorant; He actively and emotionally engages in our requests and hears us when we pray!

Through the years, we have not seen total healing, but we have seen God provide for us through financial miracles, random checks, generous people, and physical support through counselors, babysitters, family, and friends. We have seen Jane overcome large obstacles. At around six years old, Jane began to sit up on her own, with strength that came from 80% of her core and 20% of her hands (she inherited her dad’s abs, not mine)! Within the last year, we have seen Jane go from four years’ worth of hardly laughing to out-loud belly laughing when the moment is right (it’s the bodily function noises that really do it for her)!

We do not doubt that while we have not seen some specific answers to prayer, we know that God has been there all along: through the people, peace, and provision in our lives. He even tells us in Scripture that He Himself prays for us through the Spirit. Prayer must be effective and important to the Lord. So even if it feels delayed, surely, He has been busy on our behalf, and He most certainly hears us when we pray.

Prayer:

Since I know You hear me, help me not stop praying. While I may not see my prayers specifically answered, help me to see all the ways You have been there for me. Let me not grow weary in asking but help me to grow in thankfulness for what You've already done.

Declaration:

God hears my prayers, and even when I can’t see it, He is always working on my behalf.