Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Waiting For God's Best

If you have ever heard the phrase "let go, and let God", you can probably relate to what I am about to say.... "how can we let go of something that is breaking our hearts or that we desperately want!?"

Sometimes waiting on God to intervene in our lives feels like nothing less than torture. 

One particular prayer that I have been praying for nearly fifteen years, makes me feel a bit like Isaac in today's Proverbs 31 devotion, while he spent twenty years pleading for a son.

All these years, I have been praying for my sweet sister to be cured of Multiple Schlerosis. To say that it is torture watching her suffer daily with all the afflictions of the disease would be nothing less than an immense understatement.

If you have a loved one who is suffering in some way, I know you understand, and like me, you probably pray every day for their healing too, or maybe for your own.

I do pray every day for my sister, and sometimes more than once a day.  In fact, I beg. I plead. I tell Him how our whole family would be forever grateful if He would bestow His mercy upon her. I promise to share her miraculous divine healing with all who will listen. I remind Him (as if He didn't already know) that if He healed her,  her powerful testimony would impact many hearts and lives, and isn't that what He wants?

I make sure God knows that He would be ever so glorified by answering my prayers for her miracle. In fact, I have even gone so far as to bargain with God, asking Him to take a blessing from me, if it would guarantee her healing, comfort and freedom from pain.

Sometimes it feels like I wear my heart out praying for her.

And yet, her healing has not happened.

No matter how fervently I pray for my sister's deliverance from disease, heaven seems silent. And I admit, I am tired of waiting.  I know God has the power to heal, and I want it for her.  I want answers. I want action. And I want it now! Before it's too late.

Whether you are waiting for physical healing for yourself or for a loved one, for that perfect job opportunity, for your soul mate, for deliverance from a bad circumstance, for freedom from an addiction, a restored marriage, or for a child, it seems that waiting on God is one of the hardest things a Christian is called to do.

In fact, we don't like waiting in any shape or form. Who enjoys waiting in the drive-thru for food, or waiting in a grocery line to pay, or waiting for someone to call?  Nobody - because waiting is no fun! Waiting requires us to be idle and inactive.  But the difference in waiting on God, and waiting on earthly things, is that this holy waiting is not a passive activity, but an active leap of faith.

During our waiting period, God calls us to surrender our desires to Him, and to trust that He hears them. We are to trust Him with our whole heart, and pursue Him, even when He seems silent. And we can seek courage and strength by believing that although we do not understand His ways - they are right, and good, and hold a purpose that we may not be able to see right now.

Sometimes on difficult days, when I am feeling overwhelmingly frustrated with the wait, I close my eyes and reflect on the past. I find comfort in remembering those spiritual markers in my life when God moved mightily, and when I saw Him answer prayers in such mind-blowing ways, that there was no doubt it was Him.

As I remember how I have seen God use terrible circumstances in my life as the stepping stones to increase my faith and provide opportunities to glorify Him through those experiences, I cannot help but smile at His sovereignty and wisdom.

Seeing and remembering what He has already done in my life as a result of past consistent prayers, helps me to have faith for the future, and anticipate what He will do, as a result of my consistent prayers today.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to "let go, and let God", especially when what we are letting go is so embedded in our hearts and souls. Yet, through our consistent and heartfelt prayers, even at the risk of sounding like a broken record, we will experience a strengthened faith as we savor God's promises until the answers come.

Today I choose to believe, that despite my desperate longing for my sister's healing, that God knows what is best, that He hears my prayers, and that in His timing, in His ways, He will answer. And even though it's hard, I have to trust that His answer will be nothing less than His very best... right on time. And I hope that you feel encouraged to do the same.

Sweet friend, if you need to surrender a desperate desire to God - a prayer that you have been praying for so long that you are starting to wonder if God hears - will you leave a comment here today?

For each person who leaves a comment, sharing the longing of their heart and committing to actively seek God's face during the wait - I promise to pray for you as you strive to trust God in the wait for answered prayers.

*If you feel led to pray for my precious sister, her name is Christie.  The meaning of her name is "a follower of Christ", and that she is, despite it all.

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82 comments:

LRF said...

Amazing timing for this devotion & for your blog post-God knew I needed this just this morning I am almost in tears as I write because I have been praying for several things for some time now. These things are heavy on my heart-so heavy. I can give no details about this first request but I ask that you plead before the throne of God for the healing & restoration of my younger sisters marriage-please pray for the hearts of her & her husband who are currently separated-God can save this marriage I know He can. Also, please pray for my health-it has been currently getting worse, I am struggling with more than one chronic disease & wish so much to be healed or at the least to have less pain so that I can better care for my young sons, my husband & my home & better serve my God-but for now He has asked me to serve Him while in pain & while struggling with the disease (s). I need much patience to care for my family while in pain & need to not be short with my husband or boys-pray with me please! Also, please pray for my husband & I as we go through some rough waters-unrelated to the disease-there are some things that he struggles with that cause me much heart ache. Just some severe struggles that he has with some people-bitterness that he is holding onto-pray for release from this bitterness & the joy to be restored to him again! Thank you for praying, thank you for the devotion & blog, thank you Jesus for Tracie's devotion being shown to me today-Amen.

Ps: I will add your precious sister to my prayer list-I know what it is to plead for health & I know what it is to plead for a sister. God has used your words today in a mighty way!

Blessings-LRF

Anonymous said...

Your devotional was just what I needed at this time. I, too, have grown weary in the wait. Please pray for my son, Eric, who is living a gay lifestyle. He gave his heart to the Lord when he was about 13 and was so excited about his faith. I sense (from conversations)that he asked God to deliver him from his desires and when that didn't happen he gave up on God. Now he wants nothing to do with Him and has walked away from his faith. Please pray that the Lord would open his eyes to see His truth concerning this and that he would repent and turn his life back over to Jesus. My husband couldn't take the pain when this first came about and walked out of our marriage. I lost my husband and in some ways my son all in about a 6 month period. I prayed that our marriage would be healed but that didn't happen. He has since then remarried, but my heart is still broken as I dearly loved this man. So I guess I am asking you to pray for me as well.
I am praying for Christie as well, that the Lord would deliver her from this disease completely and give you and your family the strength and courage until that time comes.
Glory to God.
Linda

Anonymous said...

Your message was delivered with perfect timing. While getting ready this morning I once again told God how tired I am of my situation. How many years can I stay in this lonely marriage. How much money can I spend on counseling. I'm tired of praying about it and after 17 years my hope is gone. I don't know what to do or how to do it. I trust God in other aspects of my life but my hope is gone here. Thank you for your words this morning. I pray they will move from my head to my heart.

Rose said...

Tracie, I found such great comfort in reading your devotion and blog today. Waiting is the greatest struggle for me, and I have also tried bargaining. I do pray earnestly to be thankful, helpful, and compassionate in His eyes. I hope a job for my husband, peace within my family and guidance for us to used our talents to serve Him will continue come. This devotion helps me to remember to wait patiently on the Lord. I don't know what I would do without HIM.
Rose

Pam said...

Tracie,

Your devotion and blog post for today have spoken to my heart. "He is simply waiting for the perfect time to answer" ~ this I know but find it hard to swallow on some days.

We have been traveling a jobless journey for 10 months now with no end in sight. Interviews with promise suddenly go south leaving us wondering what happened. Each time that has happened we have had to see it as God closing the door. I KNOW HE has a plan, but I too am getting weary of the wait.

This journey, though, is causing us to walk a path of faith that we never would have chosen to walk. HE continues to provide for our family in miraculous ways and the seeds of faith being sown in my boys....well, that's just priceless. So, although this journey is hard I truly wouldn't trade it. But on some days, I am just weary with the process.

Please pray for our family as we continue to follow HIS leading and walk through doors HE opens. Thanks for sharing your heart today. You've touched mine while sharing yours.

Sweet Blessings,
Pam

Anonymous said...

Tracie, God has just used you today to give me a hope to lean on. I have been asking for the fruit of the womb for about 8 years, I am almost getting fed up on waiting. I need you to join me in asking God to please bless me with a man child. I also need prayer on my job all the time I have worked and other pple will come up and take the glory iam tired or working and others will inherit asked God to interven and give me my promotion and recognition.

I am joining you to also pray for your sister who is my daughter name sake the God who is the Balm of Gilead will heal her and take all the Glory
C.E

Anonymous said...

I continue to see God's perfect timing with your devotion this morning. I believe my husband is suffering from depression and am trying to get him to go to the doctor for treatment. My prayer request is that God would work in my life so I will rely only on Him and that God would work in my husband's heart to bring the joy back. I will add Christie to my prayer list. Thank you for your prayers.

Fiona said...

This devotion and blog was so perfect for me to read this morning. I have been praying for my daughter to be delivered from eating disorders, depression, anxiety, cutting herself and recently, thoughts of suicide, for over 6 years. She just turned 20, and at a time when she should be enjoying college and friends, she is lonely and has no hope for the future. I have been praying for God to give me the strength to have the faith I need to keep on waiting and trusting. My heart is broken and I do have days when I feel He has either stopped listening to me or is punishing me for some reason. More than anything, I pray that my daughter will be saved by God's irresistible grace and she will know that He created her for His special purpose. Until that happens, I pray that He will send legions of angels to protect her from Satan's attacks, without and within. I will be praying for you and your sister. Healing for her, perseverance for you both. Many blessings!

Anonymous said...

God is amazing on timing. He knows what we need and when we need it. Pray for my sister in Hospice that has brain cancer. I believe in miracles, but I also am willing to let her go and not see her suffering anymore. This is a horrible disease.
Pray for my grandson, he is 15 and 15 is a hard age, his mom, needs help in learning to show him love. His self esteem is so low, and he is a loner and feels like he is such an outsider, prayers for his mom to stand up and be there for him.
I will pray for your sister because I sure know how it feels. I will continue to believe in Gods timing.

Anonymous said...

Tracie I will definitely be praying for your sister Christie.
Thank you for this post. I have been praying for over two years for my Mom who has a non-cancerous mass on her small bowel. It cannot be removed and continues to cause bowel obstructions. She has found another dr. finally who is going to do surgery to re-route her bowel which should give her some relief. She is 74 & has numerous health issues so the surgery is going to be risky for her, yet if she does nothing the bowel obstructions are eventually going to kill her. Please pray for her as her surgery is scheduled for Nov.11th.

Blessings,
Janet W.

AME said...

I am in a season of deep loneliness, and I have been begging God for relief. My husband left me 2 years ago for a woman he had been having a 4+ years affair with. I have my ups and downs, and honestly, my ups are more than the downs. However, I just came out of a failed dating relationship, and it's like the break-up of my marriage all over again. I'm terrified of being alone and not having children...that's my dream, to be happily married with children. I'm terrified and my prayer has been for peace over that. A best friend of mine had just sent me an email this morning telling me that she was praying that God would give me something to cling to during this season. The next email I come to is today's devotion. If only for today, I'm claiming this as God's message to me.

Anonymous said...

This was a great devotional/blog. It's been 3 years since I separated from my young husband. And for 3 years we were uncertain about whether we went thru with divorce or not... Until a few months ago he decided that was the way to go. I was devastated as that was not what I ultimately wanted. We are now divorced but we both agree on that we do love eachother and we both hope God will intervene and put us in the same path as he did 7 years ago when we married. I ask you to help me pray for my marriage. For God to help us restored that pure and sincere love that existed when we joined our lives in marriage. Please!! I will also keep your dear sister in my prayers and everyone who's in need and has posted their desires here. God bless you and your family.

BWatson said...

Thank you for this devotion and blog, I have been praying and struggling with faith. Am I praying the right way, etc. This morning I believe God said he was answering my prayer today and I am overjoyed. The wait is definitely hard.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this post today. It is a much needed message in my life. I will continue to pray for your sister and ask God for his healing in her life. Please pray with me and ask God for peace with our neighbors. We have been tormented by their antics since we bought our home and are in need of God's peace in this situation.

Jeanne said...

Thank you for your devotional this morning. I understand your desire for your sister to be healed as I do for my 27 year old son. He was diagnosed with MS at age 15. Just yesterday as I was traveling in my car I heard Dr. Charles Stanley on the same subject and he made reference to the Matthew verse Ask, Seek, Knock. His message was on prayer and how we are to do more than ask in prayer, seek answers in His word and keep knocking on God door with our request. Sometimes its a timimg thing. Other things need to happen before our prayers can be answered. God's timing is perfect but it is not our timing most days.

thoroughbred11 said...

Well, God is listening after all!
When I read your devotional this morning, it couldn't have been more clear! I am in the midst of waiting, waiting, waiting! my life has changed so drastically over the last 10 years and not so good!
I thank you and everyone for sharing your stories and encouragement. It has helped one believer who was beginning to doubt!

Anonymous said...

thank you for your devotional today. I will pray for your sister and for your family as she struggles with her disease. It can be so draining both mentally and physically. I will be having surgery in a few weeks. I am finally at peace with it after realizing that miracle healing is not God's purpose, but I trust that he will guide my doctor's hands. It has taken a year since my injury to come to this realization. My husband is dealing with ailing parents and a struggling family business. I pray for him constantly to have the strength to deal with it daily and he has begun to lean on alcohol to numb the stress. We have great relationship, but it is frustrating to pray and see him constantly tempted to use alcohol to cope. I have even prayed that something would happen so that he would not be exposed to his hateful mother on a daily basis. (and yes, I have prayed for her also - she has started going back to church). May God bless you in your wonderful ministry.

Anonymous said...

Praying for your sister Christie and her healing from our Lord. I've been praying for 8 years for the Lord to restore my marriage. My husband divorced me, moved away and we never spoke or saw each other. But God promised me a restored marriage and just in the last few months, my husband and I have reconnected with each other and he moved back to my area a few years ago. But things on the path of restoration are not always smooth and just 2 days ago, I was praying and God said I needed to let go and let Him work on my husband. Then I got this devotional from a friend who is praying with me. Just more confirmation that God's timing is perfect. Please pray for me and my husband and for the continual restoration of my marriage, for me to let go and let God. And to those others who have posted the same request, do not give up on the promise of a restored marriage. A big help for me was Rejoice Marriage Ministries, if anyone is praying for a restored marriage, check out this ministry online, it is all Christian and God centered. God bless you.

Anonymous said...

I lay my desire to be Jack's wife at your feet Lord. My heart is waiting, waiting...I know you know best and your timing is the best. Give me strength to wait and watch for your Divine hand.

Unknown said...

Tracie, what a wonderful post and how I can really relate! My continuous prayer is for my sister who quit her job 15 years ago to take care of our parents who had various health issues and could not live alone. She sacrificed so many years of her life, even her prime years of finding a husband, totake care of our parents. Our Dad passed away about five years ago and last October our Mother went to be with the Lord. My sister has been searching for employment ever since. Our family is foing what we can to help her but with the economy like it is, it is impossible to keep up 2 households. Her house is now in forclosure and she is going to be forced to live with one of us siblings. I pray and pray and pray and don not understand why that God will not help her find employment. She goes on job after job interviews and even though all she can really do is basic clerical work, she is taking some computer classes to improve her skills. Yes, sometimes I feel like God is not listening. Please, my prayer is not for myself but for my sister Cheryl. That God will lead her down the right path towards employment. Thank you Tracie for all you do!

Anonymous said...

In some ways I feel silly asking for prayer as I read the serious issues before me. However, I am at a place today where reaching out seems my only option. Your prayers, Tracie, would be so appreciated.

I have been a stay-at-home mom for ten years now, and working on both speaking and writing during that time. During SheSpeaks this year, I felt the Lord telling me to release my expectations of my ministry and wait and rest. While He is proving so faithful, I am struggling with what to do. I feel like I am living without much purpose as both my children are in school full time and I am at home. I have six hours a day to fill and so much time to worry and wonder.

Please pray for clarity and wisdom for me. Am I sitting in fear or am I truly resting? Why am I not grateful for this time rather than wanting to rush into projects. My husband also recently mentioned he would like to know my plan for returning to work over the next two years. I would very much appreciate your prayers for clear direction and release from the fear of disappointing God.

Thanks Tracie.

Tiffany said...

I am in tears right now. Just like some of the other comments I read, this post is perfect timing for me. Last night I was upset because I felt like the enemy was attacking me from every which direction. I've been struggling with debt for a long time (I have almost $2500 in overdue medical bills & other unpaid debts). Plus I'm having a procedure done tomorrow which will cost me another $320 up front (or I can make payments). I'm really struggling right now & tired of living paycheck to paycheck. I don't want to borrow money from family, because I already owe them. So, I've been praying about this for a while now & God keeps giving me Phillipians 4:19 and I'm trying to trust Him, but everytime the phone rings or I get another overdue bill in the mail, the enemy shows up & tries to get me down. Telling me to either give up or that He's not going to come through. So, last night I had this impression to just "let go & let God". Then this morning I was in tears before I left my house for work & I just told God that I surrender everything to His will & His plan. When I saw your post on FB this morning, I knew that God was speaking to me. Thank you, Tracie & I will keep your sister, Christie in my prayers. :)

Anonymous said...

A friend called this morning and in the conversation ask if I had ever heard of your ministry. I had not but went to your site when we hung up. God led me to start a fast on Sunday evening. I have never really fasted before and I have been in the church all of my life. (52 years.) We are struggling with a situation regarding one of our sons and have been praying about it for years. I truly believe that finding your site was a gift from God honoring my desire to seek his will. I will share todays devotion with my husband and other son and encourage them to not grow weary. We will see victory in this situation. In God's time. Thank you.

Julie said...

Bless all of you! Your lonely spirits, your disease ridden bodies, your job searches and financial needs! I will truly pay for all of you!

My waiting is "simply" to hear from God! Sounds simple, doesn't it?? Do I not glorify Him enough? Do I harbor unknown sin? Do I not give of myself enough?

I don't know the answers and long to!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this post. It does my heart so much good to know that I am not the only one who is tired of praying for the same things over and over. I had even asked God if he was tired of my prayers and stopped listening. I am praying for salvation for two of my family members. I am praying for God to remove addictions from another loved one. I am praying for my loveless and lonely marriage (end it or save it I don't care but do something). I am praying for healing for two others. I appreciate your prayers on my behalf.

d

Rose said...

It seems your devotions are always geared to my needs of the day. I pray that my husband would spend more time in God's word, grow in his faith. Also, healing of my son's mental illness.
God's Blessings to all!

Anonymous said...

Tracie
This was exactly what I needed to hear today.
Thank you for doing God's work. The wait is so hard but when you realize that God's timing is the best it makes it a little easier to wait.
I continue to wait for my soul mate, my God fearing husband.
I will add your beautiful sister to my prayer list.

My Journey to Hope said...

Thank you for the much needed reminder today. Waiting for God to move is SO hard! My faith comes and goes in waves, but so often I have to say just what you did- I CHOOSE to believe. Even though God promised us that we would be in full-time ministry, working side by side, my husband is still having to work two full-time jobs. And it's still not enough. Please pray that we'll have a breakthrough and that He will finally open the door for us. Thank you!

:) Michelle

Anonymous said...

I appreciate what you wrote and truly do believe in waiting for the Lord. However, I think you needed to add that what we wait for may never be delivered. I prayed day after day, month after month and year after year for the healing of a family relationship. It ended this year in a sad and lonely death. The Lord helped me deal with this and has been healing me and aiding me and being overall amazing. Nonetheless, my wait ended in terrible sorrow. Others, sadly, will have the same ending to their wait. People can be misled into believing that prayerful patience will answer their heart's desire, and if it isn't answered, that they didn't pray the right prayers or with enough persistence. Perhaps you may want to address that.

Tracy said...

Thank you for sharing your heart and touching mine. I will pray for you and for Christie. My waiting has lasted just over 2 years now. That's when my husband left myself and our teenaged son. My prayer is for restoration, wholeness, healing, peace. It is also one of gratitude for the way I am getting to know Our Father in a deeper way than I might ever have otherwise. And also that He be the bridge between my son and I as we struggle with the strain of our circumstance. Thank you, Friends. Love and Light.

Dorothy said...

onFor years I have prayed for my husband's salvation. That he would come to accept Christ and have a personal relationship with Him.
For 6 years now I have also been praying for the restoration of my marriage.
Although I would give most anything for my marriage to be restored, my biggest desire still is that my husband would come to Christ.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tracie,
This was truly God! I do not get to read a devotional everyday but for some reason (The Lord) my eyes went right to yours. I have been praying for a Godly husband for so long now that I am doubting it is God's will for me, and yet I still have a desire for companionship. I like so many others am tired of waiting. I just want an answer, whether it's what I want or not, I just need to know that God hears me. I've laid this at God's feet but have taken it up numerous times. I ask the Lord to help me surrender my desires to Him.
Tracie for being open to what God wants to say to us all and sharing your story of your sister Christie, I will remember to pray for her as well.

V.

Susan said...

Today was my first day on a new path! I have been praying for 12 years for God to save my husband Joe and rescue my family (my son who is 11)from verbal and emotional abuse inflicted by my husband. It seems impossible! Today God enlightened my path and gently asked me to follow. I was reminded that he is holding my hand and I just simply have to trust him to help me through it all. At times it seems all of the verses, promises, and songs that I rehearse day after day, moment by moment do not take the heart ache away...The waiting is almost unbearable, but yet he asks me,"Do you trust me?" How can I say no to one who gave the ultimate for me? He sees all and knows all. We just need to lift each other up before our precious Saviour and cast all our cares on him, He loves us so very much. I will be praying for you and for your sweet sister.Thank you for sharing with us. xo Susan

Anonymous said...

your blog was definitely Gods perfect timing. being in a season of loneliness, tight on funds, single with all married/single friends w/children fulltime job + 2nd job my social life has much to be desired. i find myself in such a pit this last week or so i feel numb to the joy of knowing Who truly loves me. i am struggling & tired, but also waiting & will not give up.

Real Time Prayers said...

Please pray for my son. It will be a year on the 27th that he has gotten worse and will have no future no education no relationship with Christ. Please also keep my two little ones in your prayers as they are having some struggling issues as well.

Missy said...

I am praying for deliverance from my addiction and disorder. I have struggled with anorexia for decades and have no life left. I am praying for God's miraculous healing.

Sprofs said...

God bless you and i pray that His power may be displayed through your sister's healing. I must admit that i needed to hear this cos i've struggled to make the ends meet and when i thot all was over after getting a job, things changed the job hasn't picked and am paying my brother's sch fees. I'm believing that God is going to secure my job and my bro will finish his schooling. Plz pray for my job to pick. Thanks and be blessed.

Anonymous said...

Your devotion came at the right time today. I have been praying now for a few years because I have been dealing with some anxiety/nervousness/fear of eating in front of others. It was something that started about 4 years ago after so many things happening in my life. I am on medicine to help but I would like to get off of it and just be back to my normal self before all this started. I use to be able to go out to restaurants and peoples houses and have no fear of eating and now if I go I just don't eat. I pray that God will remove this from my body and allow me to be back to normal again. Also, several years ago we were going to move but there were things that we needed to consider so we decided to stay put and then the market turned sour. I have still been praying about it and just waiting for God's will. Things quited down for awhile so I thought okay, God must want us here and now the thought has been brought back into my mind. So, to say that I am not sure why He has placed it on my mind again but I am just asking for direction in this. Also, that business would continue to come in so that we can stay on top of our bills. I truly enjoy each one of these devotions daily and is unreal how many of them are just the thing that is needed everyday or on that day. Thank you for just being there and not even knowing it. Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Your devotion came at the right time today. I have been praying now for a few years because I have been dealing with some anxiety/nervousness/fear of eating in front of others. It was something that started about 4 years ago after so many things happening in my life. I am on medicine to help but I would like to get off of it and just be back to my normal self before all this started. I use to be able to go out to restaurants and peoples houses and have no fear of eating and now if I go I just don't eat. I pray that God will remove this from my body and allow me to be back to normal again. Also, several years ago we were going to move but there were things that we needed to consider so we decided to stay put and then the market turned sour. I have still been praying about it and just waiting for God's will. Things quited down for awhile so I thought okay, God must want us here and now the thought has been brought back into my mind. So, to say that I am not sure why He has placed it on my mind again but I am just asking for direction in this. Also, that business would continue to come in so that we can stay on top of our bills. I truly enjoy each one of these devotions daily and is unreal how many of them are just the thing that is needed everyday or on that day. Thank you for just being there and not even knowing it. Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

my friend, Joshua has been in jail for 5 months for something he didn't do. I have pleaded with the Lord as has his family and friends to lower his bail so he can come home while the lawyers fight it out between themselves. I have shed so many tears over this... I just am so tired of pleading and getting no answer.

Anonymous said...

I truly needed this devotion today. I believe that God opened my eyes to this message. You see I have been going through one of the toughest trials that I’ve ever had to face (and believe me I have been through some pretty brutal ones). However, this one has to be one of the longest and hardest that I’ve ever had to endure. At the beginning, I kept thinking like, WOW! God whatever you are preparing me for it must be HUGE! You see I knew from the start that I was being tested and my faith was on trial. Therefore, I made a decision early on that I would fight this battle tooth and nail on my knees while constantly devoting myself to His word seeking His guidance. Daily I checked my attitude and my walk. It made me feel good when my uncle (who is a strong God fearing, God loving and mature Christian soldier) commented to me about how he could tell that I was maturing in my walk by because of my attitude in the midst of this test.
Lately though my attitude hasn’t been so great. My patience has been growing weary and I’m so very very tired. I want so badly for this to be over. I spent another night crying myself to sleep and this morning when I woke up, I felt numb. I couldn’t even spend time with our Father in prayer as I usually do. I couldn’t get on my knees! The only thing that I could feel was a sense of defeat. I’ve been praying repeatedly and over again for relief and now I know that what I should have been praying for was patience. One good thing though when I think about it, had the old me gone through this trial; well let’s just say that the old me would not have made it and my story would have ended. You see the old me would have ended this by taking her life, but God’s love and his grace and his mercy saved me from that old life and now I am so very thankful and blessed.

Tracie I will pray for your sister Christie and for you and your family as well.

Kristi Butler said...

Tracie,
Your devotion and blog post were inspiring and prayer-prompting. I am praying for you and for Christie (and her family).
Love to all of you!

Life, or Something Like It said...

Your devotional and blog has brought me great encouragement today. I have been praying for many things for some time now and it does get frustrating. I admit there are several which I have stopped asking for on a regular basis. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for healing.

Anonymous said...

Tracie, today is the first day I've ever run across your blog. Let me just say WOW! Your words are just what I needed. I am looking for clarity in my life in regards to my job/money worries, my relationship with my boyfriend, my physical location and more. I am just asking for the doors to the opportunities I'm shown to either be opened wide or slammed shut - because I am so scattered that I can't make heads or tails of anything that I'm being presented with. I am all over the place. I want to be grounded and have clarity and I want my faith to remain strong - too often I just want to give up. Thank you for your prayers and support. I will be visiting your blog daily for inspiration and you and Christie will certainly be in my prayers. May peace be with you, Vicki

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your words of encouragement today. Too often we want to "short cut" God... but I believe that only furthers our answers. When we truly let go and let God, and wait for His perfect timing, He fills us with such peace and joy... to endure the journey... to go the distance! God has answered so many of my prayers over the last 2 1/2 years of my journey... yet there are still some very big requests I praying for; I am still crying out to God for Him to shine through as He does best. Thank you for your willingness to pray for me. I won't list all my many prayer request, for God knows each one of them. If you will just please lift up "My family" with our most difficult circumstances, it would be greatly appreciated; especially for my sweet baby Isaac! I will add your sister's name in my prayer journal and look forward to rejoicing with you for her complete healing! "For Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). Thank you again! Tara :) www.createdtobebeautiful.com

Laura Lim said...

Thank God for reminding us to pray unceasingly and have patient faith, just as you have prayed for your sister, Christie. I will ask God for her healing/deliverance. I have been suffering from severe migraine and seems to be getting worse, yet it came at a time when i wanted to spend more time to seek Him. Also, please pray for my 6 brothers/1 eldest sister's salvation, and their spouses too. Thank God for using you to minister to us in such wonderful ways in blogs/devotions.

Anonymous said...

Wow.. like all of the other ladies who commented, I needed to hear your post today. My heart is heavy for all of the heart-breaking problems I've been reading about on here. I have felt so alone with my chronic health problems that have grown increasingly worse over the last 20 years. I, too, have prayed, begged, and bargained with God daily for those 20 yrs! I wonder if I'm doing something wrong because all I hear is silence. My faith is weakening and I am growing soooo weary. I KNOW God heals. I've seen it over and over and over. I wonder why He heals those persons but not me. I felt every bit of emotion you were feeling as I read your post. My heart aches for ALL of you who commented and I'm praying now for all of you AND for Christie! Even though I "feel" like God has abandoned me, I know He hasn't, and I know He hasn't abandoned the rest of you either. I'm praying for fresh hope and mercy to be poured down on all of us here.
Thanks for praying for healing and strength for me, too!
Love,
Missy

Grace Lane said...

Tracie,
My husband has chronic leg and back pain. Sometimes the pain can be very severe. His pain was being aggravated by stress at work.He just recently retired and has not been able to do much of anything. His pain controls him. Please pray that the Lord would continue to help him deal with the pain. Sometimes I don't even know how to pray for him. Then the Lord answers my prayers by having me read your blog and devotional today. He is so faithful!
In His Love,
Grace

Anonymous said...

Hi, thank u so much for sharing that message, now I know God can hear me as those were the exact questions I had in my mind.. for many long years I have been waiting on God to answer me, I think from the day I learned to pray I have been asking Him to heal me (for around 20 yrs now) I have been praying to God for a husband for nearly 10 yrs and the list goes on.. and I was so sick and tired of waiting.. why wasn’t He answering me.. all my friends were getting married.. they were getting the perfect jobs (and they are not even Christians) it was sooo hard and couple of years back my situation got really worse as I lost all I had and was so depressed and didn’t know how to rise up again.. God has helped me He is there I know cause if not for Him I would have not been alive today.. but I just didn’t know why he was not answering my most important prayer requests. When I pray for small things He answers me (like when I’m in a crowded bus and pray for a seat, He answers me immediately) but these other things that has become such a huge burden for me is still unanswered... sometimes I wonder if He loves us so much, unconditionally.. why He is ignoring me.. it hurts so much.. dreams being shattered right in front of you, hopes being dashed.. it just hurts so much.. but like you mentioned in your message I know God can hear me and I believe that He is working behind the scenes on my behalf I’ll still have hope and believe (with the little strength I have left) that He is waiting for the perfect time to answer me and that He will be glorified in my life through all these pain, suffering and tears.. Pl pray for me.
From Sri Lanka.

Gillian said...

Waiting for my opportunity in creating a ministry and direction on what exactly that will look like.

Anonymous said...

My neighbor Helen, who as a child experienced miraculous healing...but has now been dealing with fibromyalgia for quite some time.

Anonymous said...

thank u so much for your blog today. i have been praying for my husband who has problems with emotional and probably physical affair. it comes and goes. please also help pray for our financial problems. i will also pray for your sister

Anonymous said...

thank u so much for your blog today. i have been praying for my husband who has problems with emotional and probably physical affair. it comes and goes. please also help pray for our financial problems. i will also pray for your sister

Anonymous said...

Tracie, My heart breaks for you. I will definitely pray for your sister. Sometimes the prayers we pray are not answered in the way we ask for. We have to be willing to look past our specific requests and see if the answer is somewhere else. My nephew at age 15 was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He lived only 2 months after the diagnosis. During those 2 months we prayed fervently for his healing. Asking God for a miracle. After his death we questioned why God didn't perform a miracle. In looking though we realized that maybe the miracle God provided was giving him enough time for his entire family to get to the hospital, from out of state and different areas. We were ALL given enough time to say good bye and let this boy know how much he meant to all of us. After the last of us were able to say good bye he lapsed into a coma and passed a week later. How thankful we were for that time. May God bless you Tracie, and your sister.
Chris

Kandi said...

Tracie,

My prayers for you and your family to all of those who postd a comment that are going through some tough times, I understand them well. I was unemployed for 14 months, thousands of resumes sent out and three interviews, but it was that third interview that God showed up and showed off big. I interviewed at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon, they called me on Saturday to offer me the position, I was baptized the next day on Sunday and started my new job that following Wednesday. It is a great job, a place I never thought I would be. I would have never chosen that season of unemployment, but I glad it happened, but it is not over yet, I was hired on as a temporary employee, it has been three months and they are talking about hiring me, but nothing has happened yet, my prayer is not that they hire me as a permanent employee, but that God's will be done, and if they choose not to hire me that God give me strength and wisdom endure and to trust that He has this in control. My prayers for you Tracie, and all the sweet women who commented.

Janine said...

Tracie - I am praying for your sister (and YOU) right now. I pray for peace, comfort, and healing. We know that God has a divine plan in this, but our human minds have a hard time accepting that which we can't understand. Faith must be strengthened daily. Please pray for my family's financial situation. I give this up to God daily, but my human brain has a hard time not worrying about it daily (actually hourly!). Thank you for your prayers. God bless you and your ministry. :-)

Becca R. said...

God has been weaving a word through my life lately-- wait. We are starting to try for a baby, and I just keep reading all of this stuff on wait. God's timing is perfect, and I love resting in that. Thanks for being part of God's word to me.

debra said...

I know that God`s timing is the best, but sometimes I lose patience. I`m praying to God to intervene in my relationship, I need commitment. I am also believing God to intervene in my career, I need a job that`s in line with my qualifications.

Cheryl said...

Trace, I feel as though once again God has chosen you to speak to me. I have been praying for 2 years for healing in my relationship with my son and his family. Also, I have made the same deals with God, if he would heal my husband. These past two years my faith and patience have grown as well as my love for Our Heavenly Father. Although my "big" requests have not been answered YET, I know they will be in his perfect way and in his perfect time. I look back over the last year and see how He has taken care of my family and that reminds me that I am not alone. As I read the struggles we all face everyday I find it comforting to know we all can feel the arms of Jesus wrapped around us and know we are not going through these trials alone. Thank you for your blog. Y don't know how many times I have felt it was written just for me. Today I ask that God will bless you, your sister, and everyone who has left a comment here today. Thank you for your words of encouragement.

Anonymous said...

I have been praying for my father and have grown weary. I have even begged God to take my dad if He isn't going to heal him.
I hate watching my dad continue to suffer and, while my mom so faithfully cares for him, neither of them have been able to enjoy there retirement or "golden years" all because of my dads poor health. They have raised 4 children and (while not perfect)they have been Godly examples for us, their grand-children, greatgrands, and everyone around them! One day I'll understand, but it's beyond me.
I pray for complete healing and restoration for my parents and your sister Chrisit. May God's power and mercy fall on them today. In Jesus Name! Amen.

Anonymous said...

Great post today! Pray for me as I have been without a job for quite a while. It's hard to wait as you very well know!

Anonymous said...

Thank you! I have been praying for years for my 2 daughters to each have 1 friend they can count on to always be on their side, to spend time with. Yet I see nothing changing. Both my girls have experienced bullying to the point it has been necessary to seek Christian counselling for both of them. My oldest daughter chose to start cutting and I praise God that we were able to get her help fast and that she has pulled through and no longer does this. She is a confident young lady now with a goal set for her life. My youngest daughter we are currently in the pit of bullying and have started her with the same Christian counselor just last night. Please pray for protection for my daughter Samantha and guidance & strength for my husband & myself and for our oldest daughter Amelia to support and encourage her younger sister right now. The pain of watching another child be bullied to the point of not wanting to go to school and giving up her favourite sport because of this bully is so hard. When we have tried to intervene the bullying just increases and becomes almost more than my daughter can bear.
I will certainly add you & your family to my prayer list. It is difficult to watch a loved one suffer.
Blessings & Hugs, Jody

Nancy said...

My once very active and vibrant mother is now in the decline of dementia and macular degeneration of both eyes. It is very painful to watch this decline when I am constantly reminded of the wonderful and loving mother she was and how much she loved life. I too have made desperate prayers to God for healing and just a little healing, restore just her sight, let her remember just how to walk. I let go and say whatever is your will and then I ask for what I want once again. I think I am most in need of strength to let go and let God perform his miraculous healing even if not in front of my eyes but when I meet my mom in heaven. Prayers for strength and comfort and healing in God's time for your sister, Christie.

Anonymous said...

Tracie,
Thank you so much for your healing words today - you have spoke to many hearts. May you be refreshed in your waiting! I will be praying for your dear sister and God's healing hand upon her. I am also so touched by all the request today - I pray that God touches each person, each need in His way! He is faithful and I praise Him as I know that He will answer each desire - it is His promise! As, I wait for His answers to my own prayers: for my son, Joshua (his name means Jesus Saves!) to find his true calling and walk in God's divine plan; for my elderly parent's health; and for my family's restoration. I will continue be pray for your sister and for you! May God richly bless you as He did me today with your words from your heart.

Unknown said...

Thank you for your word today, I can really relate. I pray for the healing blood of Jesus to cover Christie and heal her body. I know we serve a God of miracles and that it is by Jesus' stripes we are healed. I have been praying and believing for 23 years for my husbands healing. We had been married for 7 years when he had an automobile accident which left him with an injury to his neck and chronic headaches, 24/7. At this point the pain and fatigue has only increased and he can hardly bear it. I know God can heal him and I believe he WILL. But I too need to be encouraged to keep believing and not get discouraged.

Chloe said...

It is amazing how God provides words of encouragement during trying times. I have been struggling through a break-up with my boyfriend of 3 years. We were very serious and were expecting to get engaged in less than a year. I never imagined we would break up. He gave me a ring the day he left for a semester abroad in Europe and told me to treat it like an engagement ring.

This was about a month and a half ago and I started my study abroad trip to Costa Rica a month ago. When he got to Europe, he was homesick and told me he made a bad choice to study abroad because he was miserable without me. I got severe separation anxiety and begged him to come home.

A week and a half later, he angrily told me that he needed time alone. For a while, he poured out regret for how he has hurt me and has told me he loves me and will be waiting for me when I get home from my study abroad trip in December, but he always stood strong in his decision that we needed to be "separated".

For the past couple of weeks, he has completely ignored me. We never even got to have the conversation about what is going on and how he feels. He never told me anything was wrong in our relationship so I didn't even get the chance to try and fix it. I have imagined the rest of my life spent with him for the past 3 years and have been completely devastated by this.

He gets back to our home town in 3 weeks. I am hoping he will have a change of heart and will remember how much he loves me. I am hoping he will talk it out with me even though I still have to study here for 6 weeks after he is home. I am scared that I will have an overwhelming desire to fly back home in the middle of my semester so that I can talk to him face to face. It is really just a waiting game right now.

The hardest part is that I don't know what to tell myself. I want to think positively because I have hope that he is just going through a hard time personally and has no privacy in Europe. However, I don't want to be disappointed if he has just totally changed. I have a constant roller coaster of emotions towards him: begging that he doesn't give up on us, anger that he did this to me, worry that he has found another girl.

I know God will provide me with a beautiful future, but it is so hard to keep waiting and not knowing what is happening.

Thank you for writing this. Please keep me in your prayers. God Bless your sister!

Jill said...

God definitely led me to your devotional tonight. Please pray for my son (3 years old) who has recently developed asthma. I worry constantly about him, and I need so much to trust God. I am praying for your sweet sister.

Doreen said...

Dear Tracie Thank you for the encouraging message was so tired from waiting for children for five yrs.My hubby is not saved please pray for me.Since my hubby cannot pray like Isaac prayed for Rebecca,I have to do it myself but was getting very tired
God bLESS

Doreen said...

Dear Tracie Thank you for the encouraging message was so tired from waiting for children for five yrs.My hubby is not saved please pray for me.Since my hubby cannot pray like Isaac prayed for Rebecca,I have to do it myself but was getting very tired
God bLESS

Toni said...

Tracie,

You are doing such a great job of showing the love of Christ to so many. I know first hand how challenging it can be to sit alone at your computer, pouring your heart out to the Lord and screen in hopes your words will speak comfort and hope into the hearts of the reader. Rest assured, my sister in Christ, you are doing a wonderful job! God smiles daily because of you. ☺
Your sister will be healed one day, this side of heaven or not. I'm so thankful to know, one day soon, regardless of our struggles, we will all be healed and dance on streets of gold with our Lord and Savior. I pray comfort and peace for your sister and you.

In His embrace,
Toni

Anonymous said...

I would be honored to pray for your sister and please keep my son (Joshua) in your prayers. He has struggled with a medical problem for the last two+ years. I pray God's blessing and favor to all who have posted here.

Kathleen said...

I started to leave a post yesterday but never finished it. My heart's desire is to see my family know and serve the Lord faithfully. My husband and children have professed to know Christ but are not walking in obedience to Him. My dad and siblings and their families do not know the Lord. I have been praying for them for 20+ years. I see others who come to know the Lord and their families quickly follow so am I doing something wrong or not praying as I should? I heard the other day though that God gives a promise, faith believes it, hope anticipates it, and patience quietly waits for it. Some days are more difficult than others, but our God is faithful.

Anonymous said...

Tracie I ask you to pray for my marriage. My husband is resentful of his job and me. He is depressed and saying things I know he doesn't mean. I have been praying so much for him to get his passion back for me and our marriage. I love him so much. I will pray for your sister Christie. I know MS is a very difficult disease.
I know God is listening.

Anonymous said...

This message was just what I needed to reinforce my decision on a subject I've been praying about for 17 years. Like you I've begged, pleaded, bargained with God and still nothing. I've been so confused as to what and how to pray. But, I've told myself that maybe His answer is simply "No", so then my prayer now is for the Lord to help me accept His answer because it's the absolute best for me. I don't know if that signifies a loss of hope, but I can't keep asking anymore; even the Bible says "hope deferred makes the heart ill".
I still believe in His supremacy, hence may His will be done in my life.
May we all keep our faith and trust in Him regardless.
Thank You

The God-Quester said...

Tracie,

Thank you for this timely post! My godly sister-in-law, Kate has been struggling with a rare degenerative muscle disease for years now. Even though she knows without a doubt God could heal her, despite the prayers of many faithful followers, healing has not come. She is to the point now that she can barely breathe. She has been confined to a wheelchair for some time now. My wonderful brother gets up around 4 every morning to get her dressed, to the bathroom etc before going to work. After working all day, he fixes dinner, cleans house and takes care of his wife. During the day their adult son who has cerebal palsey takes care of his mom.

My brother's best friend was my Dad. Last April my parents were stabbed to death in their home. No arrests have yet been made as it appears to be a random act of violence. My parents were missionaries, pastors, etc and also prayed daily for Kate's healing. When I feel I can't bear anymore, I look at my brother who goes on everyday taking care of so much!

Kate is now in the hospital where they are making her comfortable. She is only 57 years old.

Prayers are very much appreciated not just for Kate's healing but for the healing of my family and me.

Your sister in Christ,
Donna

godschild4ever said...

Thank you for this article.. I feel like exactly how you are feeling with mu prayer for a broken marriage.. I feel like god is just listening and is not intervening.. I cry out to god, i plead to him, i begged you name it i did it.. Yet i feel hopeless sometimes and very desperate..
God is faithful and loving so when he wants to restore this marriage and family he will.. I know hes testing my faith but at the same time i am growing in my obedience to him...
Now i learned to accept that god is control and i need to let go..

Please pray for my marriage.

A child of god, YB

Celia said...

Please pray for guidance for me from God during this time when I feel as if I am wandering around without knowing His purpose for me. I continue to have difficulty forgiving myself for past sins even though I know God, in His grace, forgives.

Anonymous said...

Tracie, not only will I pray for your sister, but I will pray for the 77 preceding comments. God has an amazing way of speaking to each one of us. I see His mighty hand in the details of our lives that it takes my breath away! I do not get to the devotionals every day. I happened upon this one after eating way too much, again. My constant prayers to end this addiction plus some of the other issues listed by 77 others has led to moments of utter defeat. God has clearly shown me right now how similar we are really are despite our circumstances and demographics. We are women who are desperately seeking to know and trust God more as we live through the struggles that come from a fallen world. I think maybe the best way to wait as we pray for our issues is to pray for others. My problems do not seem to matter right now. I know that I, as well as all of us, are in His hands and we can hide in the shadow of His wings. Thank you for your earnest and sincere devotional and I thank everyone who commented before me for sharing your hearts. You will all be in my prayers. I will close this with a prayer Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17-19. May God's grace and peace be with you.

Anonymous said...

I am praying for something that I desire too much... I have been praying for this my hole life, specially two years ago and even harder for the last 3 months, but the hardest part has been this week. I need God to answer me, I feel alone and abandoned even though I know He is with me and I know he will surprise me. Thanks for this devotional because it was like cool water in a hot day. Bless you!

Anonymous said...

Please pray for my deliverance from my current situation. My husband has filed for divorce and I'm waiting on my papers to be served any time now. I'm heartbroken and physically sick. I feel like a prisoner. I don't want this at all. He never gave our marriage a chance. He just abandoned me and my daughter. I love him very much and I'm so sad and depressed. Please pray for us and that God givese some understanding. I desperately need help just to make through the day.

Anonymous said...

I've been praying for a man after God's own heart that can serve with me faithfully in music ministry and anything else God has planned.

Also, clear focus as to where I should go...stay in Mass or go to North Carolina with parents that are moving. And if I stay, for housing and a job to line up.

Anonymous said...

Maybe she could try what Ken Presner did. Read at zap dot intergate dot ca forward slash sclerosi dot html.