What Wonderful Things Can Happen When You Wait and Pray in Faith

God hears our prayers when we pray in faith. He is kind and mighty and cares about our hearts. He is working even when we cannot see it.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Philippians 4:6

I shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, I’d been making this request for over a decade.

But there had been no answer, so I felt the urgency to get more specific last summer. No longer a generic “Please bring our son a wonderful wife” but a stretching prayer of faith with a concrete deadline.

“Lord, please bring our oldest son a loving wife by his 30th birthday. A strong, kind and beautiful woman who loves You and him.”

And one thing you should probably know is that this particular son was 29. Neither was there anyone on the horizon.

Then a few more months passed, and fall was getting on when he left Texas to fly home to Central Oregon for a family friend’s wedding. A quick weekend turnaround. I privately doubted whether it was worth the expense, but Britain is a show-up guy, so he came. 

And so it was, at this small, sweet wedding on a chilly October evening, that he met her.

After the ceremony and dinner, my husband connected the two and then left them to get reacquainted—those homeschool community days now years behind them. 

So they carried on the conversation while the remaining wedding guests went off to dance, play games, and attempt to keep warm around the firepits. And there, on the outskirts of the dance floor, they stood talking for the rest of the night as if they were the only two people in the world. 

Eventually, the evening had to end, and Britain had to return to Texas. But not to worry, he gave her a call after he got home, and they talked on the phone for over five hours.

And they spoke every day after that.

And he proposed a month later.

And she said yes.

And their wedding date is set for mid-February (a month before his 30th birthday).

Why Wait and Pray in Faith

Now, let me interrupt this dreamy Hallmark moment to add something else you should know about this story. Although it might sound simple and straightforward here, I wouldn’t want to hide or brush over the painful waiting and disappointments that came before. 

Truly, ten years of looking for your wife is a long time, and who wouldn’t be discouraged?

And maybe that’s where you find yourself at the beginning of this year—discouraged, disheartened. Defeated even. 

You’ve been praying with all your heart, yet nothing hopeful is on the horizon. Perhaps you’ve considered giving up or giving in. You can’t even imagine how God could or would answer the cry of your heart at this point in your life. 

I’ve been there. Actually, I’m still there. I have another request deep in my mama’s heart that remains unanswered…so far. 

But this out-of-the-blue, crazy-but-perfect answer to my prayer for our son? It’s a powerful reminder that God hears our prayers. That He is kind and mighty and cares about our hearts. He is working even when we cannot see it, and while it seems nothing is happening. 

And it’s true for you, too. 

So, friend, I don’t know what strong heart’s desire is on your prayer list for 2024, but I hope you’ll wait patiently and continue to seek Him and pray in faith. 

In His Word

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ~ Romans 12:12

In Your Life

Is there something you’ve been praying about for a long time? Something that has gone unanswered, and you can’t help wondering if it ever will be? And we’re not talking about worldly wishes here, but true, godly desires. Cries of the heart and longings for righteousness and good gifts—those kinds of requests. 

If this is where you find yourself at the beginning of this year, let me encourage you that He is listening and to press on in hope. 

We Recommend

One of my top books from 2023 is this little gem from Oswald Chambers (author of the famous My Utmost for His Highest): If You Will Ask: Reflections on the Power of Prayer. I highly recommend it! It’s one you’ll read…and reread. And you can read my original prayer for my son and his bride-to-be here.

Let’s Connect

You can hear more from Lisa on growing in faith and enjoying an everyday, joy-filled life here. You can also connect with Lisa on Instagram for biblical encouragement!