Crimson, gold, and orange leaves swirled through the tires of my Jeep on a cold November morning as I made my way to church. While listening to the radio, and wrapped in the warmth of my car, God gave me a revelation on answered prayer. What if where we are right now (or where our loved ones are right now) IS the answer to our (your) prayers? In essence, God may be allowing circumstances to happen. This answer may look like many things:

* the stillness and silence of God

* a difficult boss

* a hard teacher

* prison time

* hitting rock bottom in an addiction

We need to rest in God’s timing and know that He is at work. Are we doing what we need to do while we wait? Praying, believing, seeking, praising, having faith. The “difficulty” that is being experienced may be the breakthrough needed for an answer to your prayer. God can and may use trials to build up your faith, answer different prayers, open doors, and perform miracles. Difficult and desperate times also “force” us down on our knees, arms stretched wide, with a willing heart and a need for dependence on God like we have never experienced before. The Apostle Paul spoke of grace through trials in 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (NIV):

      ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

***

This revelation brought to mind a circumstance I have been praying for confidence for my daughter Savannah as she begins her journey in middle school. If I speak of God’s will and I am praying for Savannah to have confidence, then I have to trust God and what He is doing in her life. She is having a difficult time in English right now and “doesn’t like” the format of the class. I can remember feeling the same way in some classes when I was younger, but it was through those teachers and classes that I learned and grew the most. I am really trying hard to step back and see her struggles as an answered prayer from God, to give her confidence in her abilities and the tools to face challenges head-on. It is a fine line to help, for sure– and I admit I have crossed the line and helped in some ways too much. But, now that God has given me this revelation about answered prayers, I am praying for more of His guidance and discernment on how to help, when to help, and when to back off completely. I see that she has always belonged to Him, and He has entrusted me with her. He knows her story and I do not want to alter or change the plan or growth He has for her life.

Moving forward, I believe that God will always answer my prayers (in His time), and I need to see each test, triumph, difficulty, or blessing as a part of God’s plan for all of those He brings into my life. I do not want to take the lesson away. Have faith that God has heard your prayer and believe He is at work. Today.

***

I would love to share an excerpt from a favorite song of mine, “Blessings” By Laura Story.

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

To hear the whole song by Laura Story, tap the link,  Blessings

Love you guys!!! All the GLORY to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Laura Story. “Blessings.” AZlyrics. https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/laurastory/blessings.html

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.