When we pray, we believe that by faith, the Lord hears our prayers. God is our Father as well as our friend; therefore He cares about every issue that we care about. In fact, believing that God hears, cares, and is constantly at work on our behalf, fills the heart of believers with hope for the future.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
Hope can be defined as a feeling of expectation; a desire for a certain thing to happen. It definitely takes full trust to cast cares into His hands. Trusting in someone means that you never doubt that person’s ability to come through for you. When we trust someone, we feel comfortable being vulnerable in their presence, with no fear of judgment, rejection, or abandonment. God wants us to be that same way in our relationship with Him, above all other relationships in our life.
While God is not a genie, granting our every command, we do know that He is a loving God. He always gives us what is best for us; good things! Keep in mind that sometimes it may not be one single “good thing” that God gives that will fully answer a prayer, but instead, He may give us compilations of “good things” that are smaller over time. These good things may even seem somewhat insignificant alone, and can easily be overlooked if we are not careful to see just how God is working.
Even more, as individual, yet seemingly smaller “good things” start to blend together cohesively, we will begin to recognize just how valuable each little piece is within the entire good plan God has for us. For example, Romans 8:28 assures us that all things work together for good in our lives.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)
It is so easy to get discouraged and weighed down by the issues of life when we try to handle things ourselves. To avoid these stressful feelings, give everything that worries you to God instead! Then begin to thank Him that he is working things out on your behalf. Always remember that God truly cares about you!
Additional Verses for Further Study:
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
Prayer Starter:
God, I value your friendship to me. I seek Your guidance and look for your presence in everything that I do. You are my desire. I give you all of the issues that I have been worried about, and I know that you are working things out for my good.
Wishing you all a great week!
