The Christmas story is good news when we wonder if God hears our prayers. Celebrations, carols, and lights bring tidings of joy, but some of you might be battling discouragement. As the year comes to an end, we may see things in our lives we wish were different. Maybe we asked God to change them, but it doesn’t look like He did.
We carry around inside the ache of unanswered prayer.
In the opening pages of Luke, we find an elderly couple familiar with that same ache. Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for years that God would give them a child. They had no way of knowing the child they were praying for would play a key role in preparing the way for God’s Son. They had no idea He was waiting for the perfect time to answer their prayer. Surely, they knew the heartache of prayer unanswered while they waited on God.
I know it too, and tucked in this story, I find a truth that encourages me.
Zechariah was gripped with fear when he saw the angel of the Lord in the temple. Some of us may be gripped with fear that our lives will never change, our hearts will never heal, or our prayers for loved ones will never be answered. We fear God will never come through.
That’s why the angel’s words to Zechariah are good news for us:
Can we just stop a minute and insert our own names into that verse?
“Do not be afraid,__________________; your prayer has been heard…”
Maybe you’ve been praying for a baby, like Zechariah and Elizabeth, yet God hasn’t given the answer you hope for. Perhaps you’re praying for a child you already have, yet you can’t see God working. Maybe your marriage needs a miracle. Or your broken heart needs healing. Friend, I don’t know what you’re praying for, but rest assured, God hears and treasures every word you lift up to Him.
What good news! God hears our prayers. We may not have the answers we hope for yet, but God hears, and He cares. We can trust He is in control, and He is at work for our good.
If you’re praying, yet don’t see God at work, take heart:
Look for small answers.
Last week I fasted and prayed throughout the day for one of my children in a crisis moment. At the end of the day, I sensed no perceptible change. “Do my prayers make a difference?” I wondered. Yet a week later I received a small answer: a 6 word text message from my young adult child that let me know God is at work. He hasn’t forgotten me or my children. He’ll complete the good work He began.
Take courage and keep praying.
Remember. Light wins over darkness.
Love wins over fear.
Grace wins over guilt and shame.
God is on our side, and He will answer in His perfect timing. We are blessed as we believe.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Even when my heart aches with the pain of unanswered prayer, help me to believe you love me deeply. Strengthen my faith. Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see the quiet, small answers I may be missing. Help me to see more of your glory, power, and love at work in my life today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Now it’s your turn: Can you tell me about a time God answered your prayer or are you still waiting on God for something?
Are you facing the challenges of life on an empty tank? Need help renewing your relationship with God?
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Beautiful & hope filled post, Betsy. God is always at work, even when it appears to us that He is not. He oftentimes works His plan out in obscurity. But His plan is always good and for our good. Blessings to you and yours!
Yes, He is always at work, isn’t He, Joanne? Even when we can’t see.
I love how you share your faith — and how you share your doubts. We’re such a confused bundle of both. And — I’m so thankful for that little glimmer of light that came in that 6 word text. God is so gracious. May He give us faith to persevere by faith, even when there is, for the time being, no sight of an answer!
Yes, confused bundle describes me well! 🙂 Yes, I’m thankful for glimmers of light.
Thank you for bringing me hope today. Pray without ceasing needs to become my mantra. God does answer our prayers but we need to be open to receiving and hearing from him. May we all make time to be with God and then keep our hearts open to receiving all he has to give us.
Yes, Mary, sometimes he answers a little differently than we expect?
I love the earlier exercise of inserting our name. Personalizing things puts it all in perspective. You’re such an encourager, Betsy, and one with such a generous helping of compassion. Praise God for His work in and through you.
Oh gosh, thank you, Kristi. I see Him at work in and through you too, friend. Yes, I love inserting my name in to some verses. 🙂
Take courage and keep praying – sometimes His answer is to simply persevere. Love your encouragement to cling to the good news and remember that it is OUR hope.
Persevering is so hard, isn’t it? Just today I was reading, “Knock and the door will be opened…”
I read this early this AM and was encouraged, then came home and did some of my Jesse Tree Advent reading — about Joseph and about Moses. I am sure that they too at times felt as though their prayers were going unanswered and felt fearful. God is so good to give us reminders of His faithfulness and working ALL things together for good!
Yes, I’m sure they did feel that way sometimes, LaNette. It encourages me to remember that. We see the results of their stories now, but they must have experienced doubt walking in the middle.
Thanks for this encouraging and hopeful post. It is good to remember that God hears our prayers and he knows what is best for us, and that often he is at work even when we can’t see the evidence of it.
Yes, Lesley! He is always at work. For our good and His glory.
I love Zechariah’s story. Oh, if we could only actually believe with our whole hearts that He is faithful and hears us when we pray.
Happy Tuesday!
Testimony Tuesday
Megs
And Happy Wednesday to you, Megs! Oh yes, let’s BELIEVE. With our whole hearts. Help our unbelief, Lord!
Love this Betsy, very timely for me and I’m sure for many others.
Advent blessings to you, Crystal.
Love this Betsy. This reminder is ALWAYS a welcome Word. (Especially when it comes to our children!) I’m holding onto this truth today as I go through my day, and the next, and the next! Blessings, friend:)
Thank you, Kristine. Grace to you during your last weeks of school before the holiday. I appreciate you!
I needed hope today for my brother. Thank you!
I’m praying for him now, Sarah. <3 Lord, have your way in Sarah's brother.
Hi Betsy,
I loved this! Knowing God is still at work even when we don’t see him is so encouraging! And I loved how after your fasting and prayer time, you weren’t sure if it made any difference, yet a week later you get confirmation. I have found it more and more that God does not answer when we think we need to hear from him, yet if we keep our eyes open, he does answer days or weeks or months down the road and that’s when it’s an even greater encouragement to our hearts!
Yes, it’s true, Valerie. Often we just need to keep our eyes open. I wonder how many answers to pray I miss. May the Lord increase our faith.
Praise God for 6 word texts and other very real evidences of His grace and answered prayer.
He’s hard at work in our lives … oh for eyes to spot His hand, His heart.
Comfort and joy to you, dear Betsy.
Thank you, Linda. After that 6 word text, I saw more of His hand at work. But yes to eyes to spot His hand and heart.
What beautiful words, Betsy! They encouraged me as I fretted over my daughter’s upcoming trip to Brazil over the holidays. I’ll be clinging to that verse until she returns safely!
Oh Anita, I can understand you. May the Lord give you perfect peace and protect your daughter on her trip to Brazil. My Turkish daughter is going to Brazil in February, but we’re from El Salvador, so it doesn’t seem that bad to us. 🙂
Betsy,
Inserting my name and praying that prayer right now. ..thanks, I needed this!!
Blessinfs,
Bev
Really appreciate your post, Betsy. I have been feeling very discouraged lately with challenges with our kids, and I need that reminder to trust that God sees and listens and is working. Thank you so much!
Oh, I’m sorry you’ve been feeling discouraged Jeannie. Yes, He sees and listens. Grace to you, friend. May His love surround you.
Dear Betsy — Searching for the “right” Scripture verse to send a friend ended when I read this. It is perfect. Thank you. A bit later I opened a daily devotional and read: “You have heard my supplication and will receive my prayer. You have said that You will answer my prayers . . . ” What a confirmation! Christmas blessings to you and your family.
I’m so glad to know this. Amazing how God speaks to us so many different ways through so many people. I hear His voice through you now. Blessings to you back!
Waiting on God is its own hard, isn’t it? I’m learning to do just what you say, Betsy — to find the small answers to prayer in the wait. The grace and goodness God has for us always. <3
Yes, yes, yes to looking for the small answers. Blessings to you, Lisa.
I needed this hopeful message today. Thank you!
Visiting from Grace & Truth.
I’m honored that you would read my words, Laura.
I very much appreciate the wisdom you’ve shared here, Betsy. So often we become discouraged when we don’t see God at work. Maybe we’re enduring times of trial, or maybe we feel like we’re simply stuck in God’s waiting room. But it has helped me so much to look back on God’s faithfulness, and to remember that His ways are infinite. God is always, ALWAYS at work, whether or not I see it at any given moment. Thank you for sharing this important truth with us at Grace & Truth!
Yes, Jennifer! He is ALWAYS at work. Just this morning I sat and looked back over my journal from the past year. I was filled with gratefulness to see what God did and how He spoke to me.
Great minds think alike, Betsy, or rather I should say God speaks a message to us in more ways than one. I’ve been studying Elizabeth’s story and unanswered prayer in a new series starting today on my blog called #PrayBoldGirl.
#PrayBoldGirl. I love that, Rachel. So good. May the Lord speak to you and use your words to encourage many.