Walk Boldly With Jesus

Hope in the Waiting - Day 8- When You're Tired of Waiting 
Psalm 138:7-8 “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
I read this verse at a prayer group yesterday, and it reminded me of all those I know who are struggling right now. The devil is having a heyday with so many people right now. There are so many I know who are struggling with health issues, money issues, addiction, or a place to live. Those that I know who are struggling with health issues are so tired of struggling. All they want to do is work for the Lord. They want to be able to attend Mass and participate in adoration. They want to be able to evangelize to everyone they meet. Yet, because of their illnesses, they are stuck in bed or in their house. Due to their illnesses, they are unable to attend Mass or participate in adoration. Or maybe it is not the illness, but they don’t have a working car to get to Mass.
Everyone I talk to these days is struggling with something or another. I believe the Lord is bringing these people into my life so I can pray with them and for them. I think there may also be a lesson in here, as I am really struggling to understand why He is not healing them already. I mean, we said the things you are supposed to say and do, and yet they are still sick. I struggle with the parts in the Bible that say, “Whatever you ask in my name will be given to you,” and then I ask in the name of Jesus, and it is not given to me.
The thing the Lord is trying to show me, or at least I think He is, is that just because it is not given to me immediately, it does not mean it will not be given to me. I am discovering that I tend to be a bit impatient when it comes to the Lord answering my prayers, especially if they are prayers for others who are suffering. I want answers now, and I don’t want to wait. I realize I probably sound like a child right now, and yet, I doubt I am the only one who thinks this way. You know you want answers to your prayers immediately, too.
What the Lord is showing me is that His timing is perfect, and just because I don’t understand it does not make it wrong. He is the Lord of the universe. I think He probably knows better than I do. The how and the why are not always for us to know. This morning, the thought that he gave me was that of taking silver or gold out of the fire too early, before it has been fully purified. Well, I have no idea what happens when you do this, so I had to look it up. Here is what I found. “If silver or gold is removed from the fire before it is fully purified, impurities will remain in the metal, affecting its quality and appearance. This can result in a less valuable product that does not shine as brightly or reflect the desired image of the goldsmith.”
God does not want us to keep our impurities. He wants us to learn the full lesson so that we can shine as brightly as He made us to shine. We can’t have all these impurities messing up our shine. God knows what He is doing. He knows the exact right point to pull us out of the fire. I love the last thing the explanation said. “Or reflect the desired image of the goldsmith.” Guess who our Goldsmith is? Jesus. So, when we accurately reflect Jesus, then God will pull us out of the fire. Trust in His timing. Yes, I am definitely saying that to myself too because I know it is hard, and yet He will give you all you need to wait and trust if you ask Him to.
So, while we are all waiting, as I am sure everyone listening is waiting for some prayer to be answered, we have today’s verse to give us comfort and encourage us. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” God is preserving us against our enemy. God knows we are walking in the midst of trouble, and He is not worried because He is walking right next to you. He knows you are feeling lost, abandoned, ill, tired, frustrated, angry, and so many other things. He knows because He is right there in the middle of this whole mess with you.
His right hand will deliver you. It is delivering you. I know you want deliverance now, so do I. I know you want healing now, and I want that for you, too. I don’t know why God is not saving you now, why He is not lifting you out of this now, but I do know He has a plan, and it is much better than my plan or your plan. Trust that He is there, preserving you from the wrath of your enemies. He has got this. While you wait for Him to save you, ask for all that you need to persevere. Ask Him what you can do to serve Him in the circumstances you are in. He will tell you if you ask.
I also don’t want you to forget the last part of this verse. “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” God will fulfill his purpose for you. If you wonder why you are so sick and yet feel a calling to help others, just know that God will fulfill His purpose for you. Just because you can’t do it today doesn’t mean you won’t be able to do it ever. When I first moved to MA, I asked the Lord why I was the only one in my family who couldn’t write. Now I write almost every day. Trust that if the Lord put it in your heart, He has every intention of fulfilling it when you are ready, in His timing, not yours.
God’s steadfast love will endure forever. We talked about this on Monday’s episode. God couldn’t love you any more than He does right now. He loves you completely and perfectly in every moment of your life. Actually, probably before you were even born and long after you are gone from this world. The verse says His love endures forever. Not just for a little bit, not just when you are doing and saying the right thing, not when you are a good boy or girl, forever. Like forever forever. Like never-ending. It is always there. So, when you feel like He has abandoned you or left you in this mess alone, remind yourself that His love endures forever. He is still loving you through all of this! Keep leaning into Him because He has not abandoned you, and He knows the exact right second to pull you up out of this fire.
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening. Lord, help us to be patient and wait for you to heal us. Please help us to continue to trust that a healing is coming. Please help us to believe you will fulfill the purpose you have for our lives. Please help us to feel your love, as sometimes it feels so far away. Please help us to believe that your love endures forever. Please help us, Lord!! We love you, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus ’ holy name. Amen!!
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday. Remember how much Jesus loves you, and so do I! You are loved!! Have a blessed day!
Today’s Word from the Lord was received in January 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email [email protected]. Today’s Word from the Lord is, “During my greatest trials, the word was all I needed. It defeated the devil. Despite how hungry and thirsty I was, the word rescued me. When you speak it out loud, my angels gear up to come to your aid. Use it in your daily lives. Always speak it. There is power in the word.”
 

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God’s Timing, Not Ours
2 Peter 3:8-9 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
When I read this verse, I think about how God’s timing can be so frustrating for us sometimes.  I was praying with a friend of mine last night because she is so tired of working at her job.  It is not great for her mental or physical health; they are not supportive of her, and the kids she teaches are not well-behaved at all.  She has been praying to the Lord for a long time now, and she is not seeing results.  She is tired and frustrated and feels like God is telling her to take a leap of faith, but doesn’t seem to be directing her on how to do that.  God’s timing is not like our timing.  For us, we each have the same 24 hours in a day.  Whether we use that to our advantage or not.  Whether we are healthy or we are sick.  Whether we are young or we are old.  We all have 24 hours in a day; it is constant; it never changes.  
However, it is not the same for God.  This verse is telling us that one day for God could be like a thousand years, and a thousand years could be like a day.  It is impossible for us to understand how time works for God.  He seems to know every move we will make, and yet he is also very present in each moment.  He is in our future, our present, and our past.  They are all happening at the same time for Him, which of course makes no sense to us.  How can the past and the future be happening at the same time?  There are so many things about God that are a mystery.  This is one of them.
The next line says the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  God is not just stalling.  He is not promising you something and then forgetting about it or delaying it because he doesn’t care.  On the contrary, He cares so much that He is aligning his promise for you at the perfect time.  Sometimes we want things to happen now, but God knows if it did happen now, it wouldn’t work.  You wouldn’t appreciate it, or you would waste it, or something else along these lines.  However, if God gives it to you in a year, after you have experienced all these other things, you will be able to appreciate it more.  
I know we want God to fulfill his promises now.  I know we want him to give us what we ask for now.  We don’t want to wait; we want it now.  I get it.  I have been in plenty of situations where I have been asking God for something, and it takes far longer than I wanted it to.  I felt like I was losing strength, and a parent can’t lose strength when their kids are acting up.  You need to be on point; you need to be at the top of your game.  Yet God says, He is there in our weakness.  His power is made perfect in our weakness.  Sometimes we need to get to that point so we can realize we need God.  Sometimes we need to get to the point where we have tried everything on our own, and nothing has worked.  Sometimes we need to hit rock bottom so that God can come in and pick us up off the floor.  However, if we have a choice, we keep trying to do everything on our own.  Often we are not even giving God a chance to work; we are too busy doing it ourselves, so He sits back and He waits.  Then we wonder why He is not answering our prayers.  
The last line in this verse says, “ Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Thank you, Lord, for being patient with me!  Thank you for not wanting me to perish!  When I read this verse, I think about the many times I have heard people say, “Jesus needs to hurry up and come.”  People are thinking the world is so terrible that we are ready for the end times.  We are ready for Jesus to come for His final judgment and end this world.  We wonder what God is waiting for as we feel the world is bad enough.  We feel it can’t really get much worse than it is, so what is God waiting for?  
This verse answers that question for us.  God does not want anyone to perish.  He wants everyone to come to repentance.  Yes, this world is crazy, and falling apart and so very broken.  And yet if Jesus came today for the final judgment, how many of us would be going to heaven?  How many of our loved ones would be going?  We think we are ready for Jesus to come, but are we really?  We just want the awfulness of this world to end, but we aren’t necessarily ready for His judgment.  And maybe some of us are ready.  If you are listening to this podcast, you love Jesus.  If you are listening to a podcast about how to walk boldly with Jesus, then you probably are doing your best to live your life according to God’s will and law.  That is awesome; you are probably ready to join Jesus in His kingdom in Heaven.  What about your family members, though?  Are they ready?  
I understand this world is hard, and it seems to be getting worse and worse each day.  I don’t know that this country has ever been more divided.  There is so much racism and sexism.  People are just rude and are not at all sorry about it.  There is so much hate these days, and it seems to drown out the love.  So, naturally, we want Jesus to come and save us.  However, He already saved us.  He did his job; now it is time to do ours.  Romans 5:20-21 says, "The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,  so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Yes, there is so much evil in the world right now, and that means there is so much grace as well.  God is showering us with grace each and every day, and we need to use this grace to spread his love to all we meet.  We need to overshadow the hate with love.  
This is not easy.  It is not easy to be surrounded by hate and to spread love.  It is not easy to be that one positive voice amongst a sea of negativity.  It is not easy to respond with love when met with hate.  This is what grace is for.  This is why God is showering us with grace.  He is concerned for His children.  He is concerned that if He came now, so many of His children would be lost.  So many of our children would be lost.  We can’t wait for Jesus to come and save us; we need to step up to the plate and start trying to save others.  We can not save anyone on our own.  We have no power on our own.  However, when we turn to the Holy Spirit, who is living inside all of us who are baptized, we have all the power in the world.  
Ask the Holy Spirit how you can help your loved ones.  Ask the Holy Spirit how you can spread God’s love to others.  Pray each and every day for those who don’t know God’s love.  When you encounter hate, pray for that person.  I know you don’t want to; I don’t either.  I know you don’t feel like they deserve your prayers.  You don’t want to waste your breath on them.  I get it; I understand what you mean.  Don’t do it for them.  Do it for Christ; do it for your heavenly Father, whose heart is breaking when He thinks about how many of His children are lost right now.  
We wonder what He is waiting for, and He wonders why we can’t see it.  Why can’t we see how sad He is about all of his lost sheep?  It says in the Bible that God will leave His 99 righteous sheep to go find that one lost sheep.  Think of how it must be for God to see so many of his sheep lost. Let’s try to help Him get them back.  Let’s ask the Holy Spirit how we can partner with God to use this grace He is giving us for His good.  What can we do to help others rediscover His love?  What is one thing we can do that would help make the world a brighter place?  What is one thing we can do to shine the peace of Christ and the love of Christ to all those we meet?  
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we are sorry we get so impatient at times waiting for your timing.  We are grateful your ways are higher than our ways; please give us the patience and strength we need to keep waiting for your perfect timing.  Lord, please show us where we can partner with you in saving your children.  We can feel your pain, and we want to help.  Show us how, Lord.  Show us how to shine your love and light into the world.  Show us how to respond with love when greeted by hate.  Show us how to love the unlovable just as Jesus did.  Show us how to start in our homes.  Lord, we have so much to learn, and we are ready to start.  Teach us, O Lord; we are ready and willing.  We love you, Lord; you are so forgiving.  You are so patient.  We are grateful for all you do for us, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus’ holy name. Amen!
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus!  I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow.  Remember, Jesus loves you, and so do I! Have a blessed day!

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We have all seen God working in our lives. However, maybe not everyone is aware that it is God who is working within us. That’s why it’s so important for us to start talking more about it. The more we share our experiences, the more people will understand how God acts and how much He truly loves us. If you’re willing to share an experience of how God has worked or is working in your life, please send me an email at [email protected] or click here. It won’t take much of your time, and your story could be just what someone needs to hear today. Consider praying and sharing. We all have a story, and the world needs to hear it.
 

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Hope in the Waiting Day 6 Am I Bothering God By Asking Again?
Luke 18:1-8 “ Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on, he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’” Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”
Persevering in prayer was the topic of prayer group today.  The person leading today had a whole talk written out on a different topic, and then while she was eating her breakfast, the Holy Spirit told her she needed to speak on prayer instead.  Now, my prayer group starts at 10 a.m., and she was getting picked up at 9 a.m.  I am not sure what time she eats breakfast, but that didn’t give her much time to prepare.  However, the Holy Spirit is not going to tell you to rewrite your whole talk and then not help you with what to say.  
It was a wonderful talk, and it was clear throughout the whole meeting that prayer is what we were supposed to be talking about.  Most of the scripture verses that were given were about prayer.  Most of the words of prophecy that were given were about prayer also.  We are asked several times in the Bible to pray continuously.  We are also told we should have expectant trust when we pray.  We should pray confidently, knowing the Lord our God hears our prayers and answers them.  We are also asked to pray persistently.  The woman giving the talk asked us all to examine the qualities of our prayers.  Are they persevering?  Are they encouraging?  Are they trusting and steadfast?  Those are great questions.  What about your prayers?  Do they have these qualities?  
The verse above is one of my favorites, although I have a lot of favorites.  I love how the woman knew what she wanted, and she didn’t give up.  I love how Jesus is the one who tells us this parable and then encourages us to do the same.  Have you ever felt like you were pestering God before?  Have you ever worried that He might be getting annoyed because you have been asking Him the same thing for a very long time?  I know I have, and I know plenty of other people who have.  Have you ever prayed for something so long you started to think God didn’t want you to have it?  Have you ever prayed for God to take the desire away from you for a specific thing you keep waiting for?  You aren’t alone.  Many of us have done that.  I know God’s timing is perfect, and yet when I am waiting for something year after year, it doesn’t feel perfect.  
If we knew why we had to wait, or when we had to wait until, it would be easier.  It’s the trusting part that is so difficult.  It’s the waiting in silence as we continue to ask year after year.  I get it.  I have been there.  I have prayed for so, so many years that our kids’ behavior would get better.  I prayed for all the anger to leave our house.  I prayed for so many things for so many years.  There were definitely times when I wanted to give up.  There were times when I didn’t feel I could ask for the same thing one more time.  Yet, the verse above kept me going.  The verse above reassured me that we can’t ask God for something too many times.  He does not get annoyed; He does not get upset.  In fact, He is the one telling us to keep asking.  In fact, those prayers that my boys’ behavior would get better and that the anger would leave our house came true.  My prayers were answered after all those years, and yours will be too!
Did you know this verse is not the only verse where Jesus tells us to keep asking and asking?  It says in Luke 11:5-8, “ And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.” There are other examples like this in the Bible as well. God wants us to continue to ask for something, even if He hasn’t given it to us yet.  He wants us to be like a dog with a bone.  
If you have a deep desire in your heart and you are getting tired of praying for the same thing, ask someone else to pray for you.  Our friends can be a great resource for extra prayers.  If you are praying for something you really want, it can be emotional to keep praying for it when it feels like you will never get it.  If you are struggling to persevere with a prayer for something you really want, enlist the help of your friends.  The more people praying, the better.  Imagine if that widow in the parable had other people bugging the judge as well.  Maybe she would have gotten justice faster; who knows?  
The woman giving the talk said that although perseverance in prayer is important, the first step is to begin with asking in the first place.  Have you ever complained about God not giving you what you wanted, but then, upon digging deeper, you realized you never asked Him for it?  The speaker said she got this sense that Jesus was really sad because there were so many people complaining, and yet they didn’t ask.  He has what they are looking for, and He is happy to give it to them; He is just waiting for them to ask Him.  That thing you are waiting for, did you already ask for it?  Did you ask often?  Are you still asking, or did you give up?  And by the way, no judgment if you gave up.  I totally get it.  It is hard to keep asking.  I have been there.  I want to encourage you, if you gave up, start again.  Ask again.  Jesus is telling us to be persistent, to keep asking.  What if God was just about to give you the very thing you have been waiting for and you gave up asking right before He was about to give it to you?  Don’t give up too soon.  Remember, if you get tired, enlist the help of your friends or your loved ones.  
I learned something about St. Dominic today.  He had four elements or characteristics for a perfect prayer.  If you wanted to pray perfectly, you must be patient, persevering, persistent, and pestering.  I love that last word.  I feel as though the word pestering gives us permission to continue to ask for things.  One of the ladies in the group said that when she heard that word, she pictured us going up to Jesus as a little kid and tugging on the bottom of his outfit.  Let’s all see if we can do some pestering this week?  Let’s try to ask God for that thing we assumed He didn’t want to give us.  Let’s all ask Him for that thing we keep asking Him for, or that thing we got tired and stopped asking Him for.  Let’s see if we can approach our prayer time this upcoming week with a renewed sense of perseverance!
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those who are listening to this podcast today.  Lord, help us to persevere in our prayer, even when it’s hard.  Help us to enlist the help of our loved ones.  Help us to pray with trust and confidence.  Help us to see what is lacking in our prayer life.  Holy Spirit, please open our eyes and ears and reveal to us how we can improve our prayer life.  Help us to remember to ask for whatever it is we need, big or small.  Lord, give us the strength to be like the persistent widow.  We love you, Lord, and we are so grateful for all you do for us.  You are the Light of the World.  You are the Word made flesh.  We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus holy name. Amen.  
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus.  I look forward to spending time with you again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I!  Have a blessed day!

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Don’t Stop Praying
Jeremiah 29:12 “Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” 
I heard this song on KLOVE this morning called Don’t Stop Praying by Matthew West. I was wondering if I should use it for my podcast this morning, and then I saw on Facebook the verse above, and I figured it was the Holy Spirit telling me I should use it. A week ago today, I did an episode about how we don’t have to fear, and we don’t have to despair because God is always there for us. He will bring us back from faraway places, and He will bring our children back, too. I know this brought people some comfort, as they are really struggling right now, and that episode was definitely words of encouragement for them. 
This morning, when I heard this song, I thought that it goes well with the episode about not fearing, as Jesus hears our cries and answers our prayers. He tells us this often: I think we just struggle to either hear Him, or maybe we just struggle to believe Him. I am not sure which, but I think this song can help build us up, especially if we are feeling down this holiday season. If this is your first holiday season without a loved one, then you are probably trying to figure out how to navigate feeling so many emotions at one time. Feeling happy for the holiday season with the family you do have but sad you can’t share it with the ones you have lost. Feeling angry that they are not still here with you and yet grateful they get to be with Jesus. There can be so many other emotions as well. 
I thought this song seemed to touch on a lot of the things we may be feeling right now, so I wanted to share it with you. The song starts off by saying:
What's your impossible? Your "I need a miracle"
What's got you barely hanging by a single thread?
What looks so hopeless now? What weighs down your heart with doubt?

What is your impossible? What is that thing you are praying for that you just can’t see a way out? You can’t see a way through. You can’t see any solution, and yet you really need a solution. What is that thing that you are looking at and saying, “I need a miracle”? What has you barely hanging on by a single thread? What are you so upset about that you are ready to give up? You are trying not to; you are trying to hold on, but it is getting too heavy, and you are afraid you will have to let go. What looks so hopeless, and what is weighing your heart down? We all have things in our lives that we struggle with. I do believe some have it harder than others, but none of us have it easy. We all have something we struggle with. We all have heavy burdens; some are just heavier than others. 
The song goes on to say:
You beg for a breakthrough, but no sign of breakthrough yet
When you've cried, and you've cried 'til your tears run dry
The answer won't come, and you don't know why
And you wonder if you can bow your head even one more time
If this is you, know you are not the only one. God’s timing can take a really long time sometimes. We beg for a breakthrough, and yet we don’t see any signs of any movement in the situation. God is working in your situation; you just haven’t seen it yet. It reminds me of the story of Bamboo. A Chinese bamboo tree is planted, watered, and fertilized daily, but there are no visible signs of growth for the first four years. In the fifth year, the bamboo tree grows rapidly, reaching heights of up to 90 feet in just six weeks. Sometimes, our breakthroughs are like that: there is no progress, and then all of a sudden, we have a huge breakthrough. 
Have you been crying and crying so much that you feel you can’t cry another drop? Have you looked for answers, and yet they don’t seem to come? Do you feel like you can’t pray anymore? Like you can’t even bow your head just one more time? Do you try to pray, and yet no words come? You are not alone. If this is you, don’t give up. As the song says:
Don't stop praying
Don't stop calling on Jesus' name
Keep on pounding on Heaven's door
And let your knees wear out the floor

Even when all seems pointless, even when you feel like your prayers aren’t being heard, don’t stop praying. Don’t stop calling on Jesus’s name. Jesus promised us that whatever we ask for in His name will be given to us so that His Father in Heaven will be glorified. So, don’t stop asking. We are told over and over again in the Bible: ask, and you shall receive. We don’t know when, where, or how we will receive, but God promises us that when we ask, we shall receive. I love how it says, “Keep pounding on Heaven’s door and let your knees wear out the floor.” This paints the picture of someone who is desperate for their prayers to be answered. How badly do you want your prayers answered? Are you asking the Lord every now and then, or are you pounding on Heaven’s door and letting your knees wear out the floor?
Don't stop believing
'Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father's heard every single word you're saying
So, don't stop praying

Don’t stop believing, and He will come through for you. Don’t stop believing he can move the mountain in front of you. Don’t stop believing He can fix your situation or heal your pain, sorrow, and grief. Don’t stop believing He will find you that spouse you are looking for or give you that baby you are wanting so badly. You don’t need a lot of faith, just a mustard seed size, so don’t stop believing. I promise you God has heard every word you are saying. He hears you, and He is working all things for your good in His timing. I know that is the hardest part, waiting on his timing, and yet His timing is perfect. 
The song goes on to say:
He's close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
The Alpha and Omega knows how your story ends
When you've cried, and you've cried 'til your tears run dry
The answer won't come, and you don't know why
And you wonder if you can bow your head even one more time
Oh, do it one more time
And don't stop praying
God is close to the brokenhearted. I have learned recently that sometimes, when you feel the farthest from the Lord, it is actually when the Lord is closest to you. You may not be able to feel Him there for one reason or another, but He is right there with you. The Alpha and the Omega knows you; He knows how your story ends, and not just in a general sense. The Creator of the universe knows you so personally that He knows how your specific story ends. Sit with that for a minute and realize how amazing that is. God is close to you, even when you are brokenhearted. He is with you; don’t stop praying!
Don't stop praying for the prodigal
Don't stop praying for the miracle
Hallelujah, hallelujah, and amen
Don't stop praying that addictions end
Don't stop praying for deliverance
Hallelujah, hallelujah, and amen
Oh, don't stop praying for the sickness healed
Don't stop praying for His power revealed
Hallelujah, hallelujah, and amen
No, don't stop praying for the Kingdom come
Don't stop praying that His will be done
Hallelujah, hallelujah, and amen
Don't stop praying
Wow, how does Matthew West know exactly what you are praying for? I don’t know about you, but I am praying for almost every one of the things listed here. I love this encouragement to keep praying; don’t stop. No matter how pointless it may seem at times, you are making a difference with your prayers. Keep asking the Lord to intervene. He hears all your prayers, and He loves persistence. He has at least two parables about persistence in the Bible. 
The verse for today’s episode says, “Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” God is promising us right here in this verse that when we call upon Him and pray to Him, He will hear us. God always keeps His promises. So, if we call upon Him and come to him and pray, then He will hear us. He will hear our prayers for our prodigal to come home. He will hear our prayers for the miracles we really need. He will hear our prayers for the addiction to end and our prayers for deliverance. He will hear our prayers for the sickness to be healed and for His power to be revealed. He will hear us praying for His kingdom to come, and His will be done. God hears your prayers; I promise you they are not falling on deaf ears, and He is not ignoring you. He is working in your situation in the perfect way and in His perfect timing. Don’t stop praying!!
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today. Lord, we want to keep praying, and yet we get weary sometimes. Can you help lift us up and put us back on our feet when we fall down? Lord, can you give us the strength and perseverance we need to keep praying even when we feel like we can’t even bow our heads one more time? We love you; we know you can do the impossible, and yet, at times, the voices of the world drown out those thoughts and make us think our problems are too big. Help us to see you are bigger than any problem we might have.  We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus’s holy name. Amen!
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!
Today’s Word from the Lord was received in June 2024 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email [email protected]. Today’s Word from the Lord is, “I surround you with my comfort. All you go through, I will use to help others. I hold your hand. I will not abandon you. Move forward. I will empower you.”

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Can I Be Disappointed With God and Still Trust Him?
Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”
I was talking with someone the other day, and they are really struggling.  They are struggling because their child is making bad choices, and there isn’t anything they can do to stop it.  I asked how she was doing, and she said she trusts 100% in the Lord and that He is working in all of this, and at the same time, she is crying out to the Lord, asking why her child has to go through this.  I wanted to share this with all of you because I want you to know you are not alone.  I also want you to know it is ok to have two competing feelings.  You can be happy about something and also concerned about how it will all work out.  You can be happy you just found out you were pregnant, and also feel worried that you will have another mouth to feed.  You can be sad your loved one passed away and grateful they aren’t in pain anymore.  
When it comes to trusting the Lord, I think we have expectations that are unrealistic.  We tend to think if we trust the Lord, we won’t ever have to struggle again.  All of our needs will be met, and life will be great.  I can tell you from experience, this isn’t the case.  God never said we wouldn’t struggle.  Moses trusted God, and yet the Israelites struggled.  Moses trusted God would do as He said, and yet I am sure there were times when he was sweating it out, waiting for God to answer the prayers.  God will take care of our needs, and He will provide.  However, it is not always in our timing, and that can cause some stress.
My parents are great at trusting the Lord.  If they didn’t have something they needed, they asked the Lord, and He provided it.  However, that doesn’t mean they never worried about anything.  I am one of 11 children, so as you can imagine, there was never enough money to go around.  Sometimes, we had more bills than we had money.  Sometimes God would answer prayers by providing extra money in some miraculous way, like when my grandparents would send unexpected money.  Other times God would provide food from neighbors so we didn’t have to spend money on food and could put that money towards the bills.  However, sometimes God would provide by softening the heart of the person my mom called at the electric or heating company, and they would let us pay a smaller amount this month, or they would agree to wait one more month before shutting the electric or heat off.  God always came through, just not always in the ways we would have chosen.  
You can trust the Lord and also be mad, sad, or upset with Him at the same time.  You can trust that things will work out in the end, or that He will use all this bad for good, and also be upset that you had to go through the bad.   My friend can trust that things will work out for her son and also be really sad that her son has to go through all of this.  She can know God is looking out for Him and still be frustrated that God didn’t protect Him from all of this.  I think the not knowing why is the hardest part.  If we could skip ahead to the end of the story and know the why of what we are going through, I bet things would be easier to endure.  If we knew how God was going to use the hard things for His good, if we understood the why, it might make it easier to make it through the hard times.  For instance, if I knew my son was going to get in trouble with the law, have to spend time in jail, but ultimately he would use that experience to save countless other kids from the same fate, I might find it easier to make it through the time he was in jail.  
My friend said something the other day, and I think it's amazing she can look at it like that when she is hurting so much.  She said this is just a blip in her son’s life.  It is so true, and yet, when we are living through it, we feel as though it is an eternity.  When our kids are teenagers, they make mistakes.  Some teens really struggle; most teens struggle, I think.  When they are struggling to fit in and to make it through middle school and high school, we worry about them.  We tell them this time won’t last forever, and yet it feels like it might.  We, as parents, worry about their future and what impact these years will have on their future.  We worry about them being successful, and to be honest, sometimes we worry about them being alive in the future.  If your kids are making bad choices, you may worry they will harm themselves intentionally or unintentionally.  
We need to keep going back to God.  This verse says, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”  I think most of us are working on the trust in him at all times part of this verse.  We are probably pretty good at trusting Him with a few things, and are still working on the rest of the things.  I think God understands, and He is willing to wait for us.  The thing I think we all don’t realize is that we can’t manufacture trust in God ourselves.  This comes from God.  If we want to trust God more, we need to ask Him to help us learn to trust more.  The next line tells us to pour out our hearts before Him.  I think many of us are afraid to do this.  We are afraid to yell at God, or be sad or mad at God.  We feel angry with Him, but we don’t say it because we feel it is wrong to be upset, mad, or sad at God.  
He is telling us right here in this verse to pour out our hearts to Him. God already knows what is in your heart. There is no way of hiding it.  However, when you pour it out to God, when you say it out loud and release all those feelings, God can start healing you.  He can start to work on the pain and hurt you feel.  God is strong.  He can take whatever it is you want to say to Him.  God longs to have a close and intimate relationship with you.  Think of those you have close relationships with.  Would you be as close as you are if you couldn’t share your real feelings with them?  If you lied to them and always told them everything was ok, going well, even when it wasn’t, would they still want to be your friend?    Be honest with God.  Tell Him how you feel.  Yell, cry, scream, whatever it is you need to do to let God into your heart.  
The last line says God is a refuge for us.  Refuge means providing shelter from pursuit, danger, or trouble.  God provides us with a shelter, a safe place where we can bring Him all we have.  We don’t have to be afraid of our feelings; God is available to listen to them and to help us figure them out.  God is there for us through everything.  He is someone we can always count on, even if others have let us down.  My hope for each one of you listening is that you feel comfortable pouring your heart out to the Lord.  I hope you trust Him enough to yell and scream when you feel you need to, and that you know He will still love you the same after you do.  He might even love you more, if that’s possible.  Or, maybe not love you more, but you may feel closer to Him afterward.  The more you open up to God, the closer you will feel to Him.  Trust He can take whatever you have to say to Him.  
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we love you, and we want to trust you; please help us.  We want to know you are there for us and that you will love us just as much if we cry out when we don’t understand.  Help us to have faith that your plan is better than our plan.  Help us to trust even when we don’t know what the plan is.  Help us to be honest with you about how we are feeling.  We love you, Lord; you are amazing.  You are the Messiah, You are the Lord, You are the Resurrection and the Life.  We are so grateful for all you do for us.  We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus holy name. Amen!
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus.  I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.  Have a blessed day.  
 

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When Prayers Seem To Go Unanswered
Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?”
I liked this verse for today because this idea has been on my mind lately. The Lord has been telling our prayer group a lot over the last several years that we are not asking for too much; we are asking for too little. Just last November, He said, "My children, I want you to call out to me. I long to bless you, to bless your families, to bless your communities, to bless your world. When you call to me, you open the floodgates of my love and my mercy. Ask for more; you are asking for too little. I have much to give you. I have much to bless you with. Trust in me.” Isn’t that amazing? The fact that God is telling us we are asking for too little. I have been thinking about this a lot lately because I don’t know about you, but I have been asking God for some pretty big things lately. 
Just recently, I asked God to heal my friend miraculously. He had surgery that seemed to go well, but then, when taking the instruments out, the surgeons nicked an artery. Then he seemed to be doing better, and then all of his organs shut down, and he didn’t make it. I was really surprised, as God said we were asking for too little, and this definitely wasn’t little. If I can be honest with you, I don’t understand this. I don’t understand when we pray and our prayers aren’t answered. I wonder if you struggle with this too? I wonder if you have some pretty big prayers that seem like they weren’t answered either.
When I asked the Lord about this, He told me my prayer was answered, just not in the way I wanted it to be. My friend Brian is completely healed now. He no longer has the disorder that was attacking his body and making life so hard for him. He no longer needs to be on oxygen and have surgery after surgery. He is no longer suffering. I understand that. I also know God could have healed all of that on this side of Heaven also, so that is where I get lost sometimes. I heard a speaker this weekend. Sister Tracy Dougas, who is a nun with the Daughters of St. Paul.
She said something during her talk that helped me understand this a little better. She brought our attention to 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” Sister Tracy encouraged us to consult the Holy Spirit and ask Him how to pray for whoever or whatever we are praying for. For instance, before I prayed for my friend, I could have stopped and asked the Holy Spirit how I should pray for this person. What should I pray for for this person? She reminded us that God knows so much more than we know. He can see the whole picture, whereas we can only see a tiny fraction of the picture.
She reminded us of Luke 11:11-13: “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” The Lord knows what we need better than we do. If we try to give our kids the best we can in our flawed state, how much better will the Lord give us what is best for us?
God’s ways are higher than our ways, and God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. Sister Tracy said God is probably looking down at us and thinking we are asking for a whole lot of serpents. We don’t see all the twists and turns that are ahead of us. We don’t realize that if we get that job we want, then we will be working more than we thought or commuting more than we thought. We don’t know that if we buy that house that we thought we really wanted, we won’t actually be able to afford it and will end up stressed out with no money. We don’t know that if we go on that trip, we will get into a car accident. We can’t see the future; only God can. 
When our prayers aren't answered in the way we want them to be, it is because God has something better planned for us, or because He is preventing us, or those we are praying for, from something. God knows what He is doing. He is working all things for our good. That doesn’t mean that He doesn’t allow bad things to happen. That doesn’t mean that we have to like everything that is happening. It does mean that we don’t have to lose all hope and fall into despair when something happens or when our prayers aren’t answered in the way we want them to be. It means that we can be sad and also be assured that God is in the situation, working it for good in some way. 
I heard an analogy once from Pamela Crim during an episode of the Big Life Devotional Podcast that really stuck with me. She said God uses all things for our good, but that doesn’t mean he makes that thing that happened good.  Her analogy was using crap as fertilizer. It stinks and is not pleasant. Yet farmers use that crap to fertilize their land. It helps beautiful things grow. Fertilizers are applied to replace the essential nutrients for plant growth in the soil after they have been depleted. So, fertilizer replaces the nutrients that have been lost so crops, flowers, grass, and whatever you are trying to grow can grow better. However, that fertilizer is still crap. It doesn’t all of a sudden become a beautiful plant. It doesn’t all of a sudden smell better. The crap still remains crap; however, the farmer is able to use that crap to make something good grow out of it.
This is similar to the crap that happens in our life. God isn’t turning that bad thing into good. However, he is able to help good grow from it. For instance, I do not look back at all the really difficult times with my boys and think they were good times. I still think they were really hard times. Yet, now I can see the beautiful fruit I got out of those hard times. I am a much more patient person. I can give control over to the Lord much more easily. I have a trust I might not have otherwise had. I have a persistence and determination that I might not have otherwise had.
I still don’t know why God didn’t heal my friend on this side of heaven. I think we aren’t necessarily supposed to understand everything God does. He says we should approach Him as little children. Little children don’t always need to know the why. I do know that although I am really sad that my friend lost her husband and my other friends lost one of their best friends. I know God did answer my prayer. My friend’s husband is healed and no longer suffering. I know God will use this situation for good, and there will be beautiful fruit that comes out of it. 
I was talking to my friend the other day, and I said, “God, can’t you give her a break?” And she said He has been giving her breaks all along the journey. She said she could see Him all over this. So, I am looking forward to hearing her testimony as to where she saw God in all of this hardship. I honor her and admire how she can see God in the middle of all her suffering. I pray that we can all be that lucky!
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode. Lord, help us to see you in everything. Help us to trust that if you don’t answer our prayers the way we would like, it is because you have something better in mind. Help us to ask for more, Lord, even when we don’t understand. When we feel you haven’t answered our prayers, help us to see how you have. Help us to keep asking for more, Lord. Lord, help us to stop and ask the Holy Spirit to show us how to pray in each and every situation. We love you, Lord! We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus ’ holy name. Amen!
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk Boldly with Jesus. “If there’s something you’ve been praying and waiting for, and you feel comfortable sharing it, I’d love for you to reach out and let me know. I would be honored to pray with you and for you during this Hope in the Waiting series.” I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day! 
Today’s Word from the Lord was received in February 2026 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email [email protected]. Today’s Word from the Lord is, “Let's walk together. Hold my hand if you need to. That's fine. I'm with you. I love you. And I walk with you.”

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If you would like to share your story, you can contact me by email [email protected] 

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Hope in the Waiting - Day 2- I Have Heard Your Prayers And Seen Your Tears
Isaiah 38:5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.”
I love this verse because sometimes, when we have been waiting a long time for an answer to prayer, we begin to wonder if God is really listening. Maybe you have prayed the same prayer over and over again. Maybe you have cried more tears than you can count. If that is you today, I want you to hear these words personally: God has heard your prayers, and He has seen your tears.
Just as it says in Isaiah 38:5, “This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.”  When I read this verse this morning, my first thought was of a friend of mine.  She is really struggling right now, and I felt like God was talking to her when He said, “I have heard your prayers and seen your tears.”  Then I got to thinking, and I actually have several friends who are struggling right now.  Struggling with some really difficult issues.  
For all of you who are struggling right now, I want you to know that you are not alone. Life can be incredibly difficult, and sometimes it feels like one hardship gets piled on top of another. We have certainly walked through difficult seasons in our family too, and looking back, I can see that God was with us through all of it.
What if you can’t see that?  What if you don’t know where God was in all of it?  You can be someone who loves God, someone who has a close relationship with God, and also you can question where God is and what his plan is.  King David was anointed, and he had a very close relationship with God, yet even He questioned God.  In Psalm 13:1-3 “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?  How long will my enemy triumph over me?”  Have you had these thoughts before?  Have you, or are you going through something, and you are wondering how long you have to endure the suffering before God will save you, before He will answer your prayers?
If this is your first time, I want to let you know that this is okay.  Sometimes, we can make our pain worse because, on top of the pain of the situation, we feel guilty because we are questioning the Lord, or we are mad at the Lord.  Sometimes our minds say things like, “If I were a good Christian, I would just trust God,” or “I’ve had a relationship with the Lord a long time; I shouldn’t be worried or questioning.”  God can handle our questioning and our anger.  He is strong enough for anything you have for Him.  He wants you to turn to Him in times of need.  You are not the only person angry with God and questioning how long you will have to suffer.  Trust me. There are many people in the same boat.  Please let the guilt go.  Please do not judge yourself for questioning.   David questioned often; just read the psalms, and you will see just how often, and yet God chose David’s lineage to bring forth the Savior of the world.  
Second, I want you to know that this scripture verse is for you.  God wants to talk directly to you right now when he says, “I have heard your prayers, and seen your tears.”  He is there with you, even when you can’t see Him or feel Him.  He is there every moment of your life.  I know it is a struggle sometimes, many times, to understand why you had to go through some of the things you had to go through.  I know that not knowing is sometimes the hardest part.  I want to assure you that things will get better.  I don’t know how, and I don’t know when.  I do know that God wants ridiculously good things for you.  It says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  God will get you through these difficult times, and there will be great times on the other side of this hardship.  Just hang on.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you will make it through this hard time.
I would like to give you two things that may help get you through this difficult time.  The first is from the same psalm that I read from earlier.  In Psalm 13, David was questioning the Lord and asking how long he was going to have to suffer. Then he ended the Psalm with verses 5-6: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”  David does question the Lord, and then he turns back to praising the Lord.  Praising the Lord in a difficult time can really help us get through that difficult time.  Now, I can already hear some of you saying, “But what if I am struggling to trust in God’s unfailing love?” or “What if I don’t know what to say?” This is ok. God knows this.  When I struggle to believe in something, I go to Mark 9:24, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 
Sometimes, we get to a place where we can’t pray.  Has this happened to you?  If so, I want you to know you are in good company.  I am not sure if you know this or not, but Mother Teresa had this happen to her.  She was so close to the Lord; she was doing His work every single day, and yet she went through really long, like several years long, dry spells where she could not pray.  She would enter into her prayer time, and nothing would come.  The enemy has a way of making us feel like we are the only ones that these things happen to and that we are awful people because of it.  I just want you to know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  
I think that is part of the reason why God raises up Saints.  I think we usually put them on pedestals, and when we do, I think we are missing the point.  I think the Saints are actually to show us very real people who are not perfect; they made mistakes, in some cases big mistakes, and yet still were capable of carrying out God’s work.  God does not use perfect people.  He takes broken, imperfect people and makes them perfect through His grace.  I think the Saints are showcasing God’s redemption.  If you read about the saints, you will quickly take them off the pedestal, and you will be able to see parts of yourself in them.  If God could turn their lives around so completely, He could do it for all of us.
The second thing is to read Scripture.  If you are going through a difficult time and you are questioning if God is there, reading Scripture can be helpful.  Seeing how God has shown up for others in the past can help you see how He may show up for you.  If you struggle to trust in the Lord, read passages that talk about God’s faithfulness.  If you struggle to believe God loves you, read passages on God’s love.  I have recently learned of something called scripture writing.  I had no idea what this was.  Well, obviously, I could deduce what it meant, but I didn’t know how to do it.  How do you know what scripture to write?  How much to write?  I had several questions.  
The truth is, there is no one way to do it. The point is to familiarize yourself with Scripture, and you remember things better when you write them down.  However, I like it when things have directions that I can follow.  So, if you are like me, here is what I do.  I go online and Google scripture writing plans.  There will be tons of images that come up.  Most of them have a theme, so I pick one that I feel resonates with me for that month.  One month, I picked Be Bold; another month, I picked Repentance & Renewal.  Then the plan tells you which verses to write each day. It is usually just a verse or two.  I just got a notebook, and each day, I write the verse for the day.  It has been really great, and I enjoy those 5-10 minutes with the Lord.  
If you are struggling right now, maybe give scripture writing or praising the Lord a try and see how you feel afterward.  If you are not sure you know what to say when praising the Lord, you could always listen to Christian music and let the artists praise for you.  If you are not sure what to pray, you can pray the scriptures.  The Book of Psalms is also a great place to go for praising the Lord.  If you feel like you can’t praise the Lord in your circumstances, you can borrow David’s praises.  
You will get through this hard time.  God is with you!  You are not alone.  He may let you fall, but He will be there to catch you and put you back on even stronger ground.  You are amazing, and God loves you more than you will ever know.
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you be with everyone listening to this today.  I ask that you let them see where you are in all of this.  Lord, sometimes we don’t understand Your plan or why we have to go through the hard times. We ask that you bless us with a supernatural trust in you.  We ask that you help us to feel you in those really hard times.  Lord, we ask that You fortify us with strength and protect us when we are weak.  Lord, some of us are going through really difficult times and can’t see the way out.  I ask that you shine a light on each step of the way and fill us with assurance that you are there and are leading us out.  Lord, I thank you for being strong enough to handle our questions and our anger.  I thank you for your mercy that when we are angry with you or question where you are, you do not get angry with us.  I thank you for the graces you give us each and every day.  Lord, we love you and are constantly amazed by you.  Father, we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus’s holy name. Amen
Thank you for joining me on this journey to live boldly with Jesus.  Do you know someone who has been praying and waiting for a long time? Would you consider sharing this episode—or the Hope in the Waiting series—with them? Sometimes God uses us to bring encouragement to someone who really needs it. I look forward to spending time with you again tomorrow.  Have a blessed day!
Today’s Word from the Lord was received in February 2026 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email [email protected]. Today’s Word from the Lord is, “My children, you're not children anymore. You are fully grown. You lean on my Father. You lean on the Spirit. Be bold. Be my representatives in all that you do and all that you think. I'm with you.”

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Hope in the Waiting – Day 1: How Long, Lord?
Before we begin today’s episode, I want to take a minute to tell you about a new series we are starting called Hope in the Waiting.
This series is for anyone who has been praying for something for a long time and is starting to wonder if God hears them, if He is going to answer, or how much longer they can keep waiting. Maybe you are praying for healing, for a loved one, for a relationship, for a child, for a job, for a breakthrough, or for something else that is very close to your heart.
Over the next 31 days, we are going to talk honestly about what it is like to wait on the Lord. We are going to look at Scripture, wrestle with some of the hard questions, and talk about practical ways to keep trusting, keep praying, and keep living while the answer has not come yet.
My hope is that by the end of this series, even if your circumstances have not changed yet, you will feel more encouraged, more hopeful, and more aware that God is with you in the waiting.
So today, we are beginning with a question many of us have asked at one time or another: How long, Lord?
Psalm 13:4-5 “How long, Lord? Will you utterly forget me? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look upon me, answer me, Lord, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death, Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed,” lest my foes rejoice at my downfall. But I trust in your mercy. Grant my heart joy in your salvation, I will sing to the Lord, for he has dealt bountifully with me!”
When I read this Psalm, I decided to use the whole Psalm instead of just a verse, as I think it is a beautiful example of the cycle of emotions we can go through. The Psalm starts out with lamenting. “How long, Lord, will you utterly forget me? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” I am sure we have all been here. I am sure each person listening has had at least one time in their life when they were wondering if the difficult time would ever end. I am sure we have all wondered how long we would have to suffer. I think we have all had a time or two where we wondered if the Lord had turned away from us because it seemed like He abandoned us. Can you remember a time you felt like this? Maybe you are in this lamenting season right now.
I prayed over a man who was in such a season. He has been struggling for over a year with a work injury, and it has been one nightmare after another. It has been really stressful for him. He is finally starting to have some peace about the situation, and now the enemy is coming in and trying to take that peace from him. There are a lot of unknowns in his situation, and yet he is choosing to trust the Lord. Trusting the Lord doesn’t mean everything will suddenly be easy. I am sure he will have similar questions to the ones above. How long will I be without work, Lord? How will I pay my bills, Lord? How will I get sleep when my mind won’t stop thinking? 
He told me the Lord reminded him of something the other day. When thoughts and doubts started to flood his mind, the Lord reminded him of a song he used to sing at church when he was younger. He started singing the song, and his thoughts quieted down. This is such a great witness to the power of praise and praise music. When the enemy is attacking, you start to praise the Lord. The enemy is attacking because he wants you to turn against the Lord. When you start praising him, the enemy flees. Even if you don’t know what to say, you can just say “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” repeatedly. 
The next part of the Psalm says, “Look upon me, answer me, Lord, my God! Give light to my eyes lest I sleep in death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed,” lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.” How many of us have been here? How many of us have begged God to do something, to look at us, to help us? The author of this Psalm is asking the Lord for help. He is asking the Lord to save him. He asks the Lord to bring him into the light before it is too late. Have you ever felt like if the Lord didn’t save you soon, it would be too late? I know I have. 
I had surgery one time when I was younger. It was an outpatient procedure. Tony was taking me home to recuperate, and we stopped at the grocery store to pick up some comfort food for recovery. I didn’t feel well and thought I might pass out. We sat on a bench, and I passed out. I remember feeling like I had been out for a long time, and then I heard someone say, “Call 911.” I remember thinking that if they hadn’t even been called yet, then I wasn’t going to make it until they got there. I was taken to the hospital, and I was fine, but I definitely was praying at that moment for God to help me immediately.
The Psalm also says, “Lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed,’ lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.” We don’t want the enemy to be able to say they won. We already know who wins the war between good and evil, and it is good. When Jesus died on the cross, He defeated death and evil once and for all! God will not let evil overcome us.
Finally, the psalm ends with the author reassuring the Lord of his trust. “But I trust in your mercy. Grant my heart joy in your salvation, I will sing to the Lord, for he has dealt bountifully with me!” In the span of a few lines, the author goes from lamenting to begging God for help, to reassuring God that he trusts Him, and then he is singing to the Lord for all He has done. This is not uncommon. Sometimes in the course of praying for things, we realize how much God has done for us in the past, and our petitions or our lamenting turn to praise. 
I was reading the devotional titled “Jesus Calling.” It is an awesome devotional with messages from the Lord for each day of the year. I really liked today’s as it goes with the message of this episode. I will leave you with the words from this devotional:
When many things seem to be going wrong, trust me. When your life feels increasingly out of control, thank me. These are supernatural responses, and they can lift you above your circumstances. If you do what comes naturally in the face of difficulties, you may fall prey to negativism. Even a few complaints can set you on a path that is a downward spiral by darkening your perspective and mindset. With this attitude controlling you, complaints flow more and more readily from your mouth. Each one moves you steadily down the slippery spiral, but it is possible to apply brakes. Cry out to me in my name! Affirm your trust in Me, regardless of how you feel. Thank me for everything, though this seems unnatural – even irrational. Gradually you'll begin to ascend, recovering your lost ground.
When you are back on ground level, you can face your circumstances from a humble perspective. If you choose supernatural responses this time: trusting and thanking me – you will experience my most unfathomable peace.
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to be with all those who are listening to this episode today. Lord, I ask you to be with all of us who are in a difficult place right now. Lord, please shine your light into the darkness. Please fill us with hope that you will save us before it is too late. Fill us with hope that our enemies won’t be able to say they defeated us. Lord, help us remember to praise you when times are hard. Remind us to thank you when times are hard. Help us not get caught up in negativity and keep us from falling down that slippery spiral. Show us how to apply the brakes and get back on ground level. Lord, I pray in a special way for each and every person listening to this episode who feels lost. Help them feel seen, Lord. We love you, Lord; you are amazing! We ask all of this in accordance with Your will and in Jesus’ holy name, Amen!
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. If this series is speaking to you, make sure you follow or subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any of the 31 days of Hope in the Waiting. I look forward to meeting you here tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!
Today’s Word from the Lord was received in February 2026 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email [email protected]. Today’s Word from the Lord is, “Just open yourself to the voice of the spirit. Sometimes the spirit doesn't speak. Sometimes the spirit just leads. Sometimes the spirit just gives you a thought and he wants you to act upon that thought. I know that you've all had those incidents in your life where that is what you have done. The spirit can be silent and still working. Follow the voice of the spirit. Follow the leadings of the spirit.”

CLICK HERE ✨ JOIN WALK BOLDLY WITH JESUS MENTORING (Live Tuesdays + recordings available — $30/month)

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