God listens to our prayers

Probably one of the hardest steps of our faith is believing that God truly hears our prayers and is willing to help.

We are still living in a world that has dimensions and boundaries and our finite minds have limits to our understanding in difficult matters.

We therefore need a measure of faith to see past that which is seen and go deeper into that which is unseen.

The only way to please God is by trusting him despite the storms that we face in a world that is literally being destroyed by sin.

Although it is not visible to our eyes right now, there is a battle that is taking place all around us in the heavenly realms.

Darkness is covering the horizons in every corner of this world as evil is seeking to destroy everything in God’s creation.

So when we are faced with a painful trial, it is easier to believe what we can see than what can’t see.

Yet it is at our lowest point of struggle that we must lift our eyes in prayer and believe that our God is not going to let us be devoured by the enemy’s schemes.

It may seem impossible to live with a heart that is breaking, but God has promised us in his word that “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

He is not slow to help and he will never fail you, even though it may seem that you are being crushed by the weight of your pain.

If you could see the very real battle that is taking place all around you, you would understand that you are being guarded by the forces of heaven.

Every step you take as a believer is guided by the hand of God who knows the path you must take to victory.

Every prayer that you present to Christ is heard and he knows what is right and perfect for you.

Your whole life is before his eyes and he is answering you in ways that for now, you may not understand.

The solid truth is that Christ never stops working all things out for your good.

When you lift up your prayers and petitions, you are surrendering all of your struggles to the will of God.

You are seeking his strength to help you stand in faith believing the God who saw your unformed body in the womb and who numbered all of your days before even one of them came to be.

It is difficult for you to understand, but you are worrying about things that Jesus already has worked out.

Your fear and despair stems from not understanding the power of God and his unfailing love for you.

Never will his eyes leave you for one second.

At the moment of Christ’s death, the temple veil that enclosed the holy of holies was torn, signifying our new access to the throne of God in every prayer.

Believers are right there with Christ in every petition that is made to him.

The devil can’t stop our prayers, nor can he hinder God from answering them.

In Scripture, the Angel of the Lord said to Daniel, who had been praying desperately for God’s help, “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard” (Daniel 10:12).

That is a promise for us, too.

When you go to God trusting that he is powerful enough to help you in everything, your prayers are heard.

I say all this to encourage you through the trials you are facing.

You can still have a future despite a broken marriage or a relationship that is not working out.

Your financial struggles are not going to be forever.

Job situations and serious health issues are still under the sovereignty of God.

His strength is perfected in our weakness. We can trust our God in every area of life, and we can trust him in death. There is nothing good that he will ever withhold from those who belong to him.

Never let the silence of God’s answer make you think that he is not doing something for your cause.

No matter how or when he chooses to do it, never doubt that God will show up and fight against that which is coming against you.

Marianne Lordi attends Old North Church in Canfield.