When we don’t know what else to do and we don’t have all the answers, trusting God is the most important thing we can do. But how do we exhibit trust in God?
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On my knees and on my face before the Lord, the tears streamed. There was nothing else I could do.
I could not:
- remove a family member’s dementia
- reverse a friend’s divorce
- take away a friend’s cancer diagnosis
- bring a friend’s child home from prison
- help another friend get services for her adult child with Asperger’s syndrome who was too high functioning to meet system criteria
- heal a friend’s heart broken from her spouse’s sex addiction
- alter a friend’s financial ruin
So very many hurts among those I knew and loved, and these just barely skimmed the surface.
My heart ached and my throat burned as my tears seared their way down my cheeks as I petitioned the Lord.
I begged for answers…for some way I could help that would make a difference.
Yet I heard nothing.
What do you do when you don’t have the answers?
What do you do when a friend is hurting and you do not have the answers?
Professionally, I was used to having answers…patients came to me for answers when they had exhausted other avenues, and frequently I was able to provide the answers that others had not. And yet, now, I could not. And I felt helpless.
Or, at least, that was what the enemy of my soul wanted me to believe. The facts were that I did not know the answer, while the truth was that I had access to the One who has all the answers.
The greatest gift we can give anyone is to pray and lead them to the One who not only knows their need but knows how to meet their need.
Expressing trust in God through prayer
So very often I hear others say, and I have often said myself, “I wish there was something more I can do other than pray.” But friend, prayer is the most powerful thing we can offer anyone in need. And yet that gift requires the greatest amount of trust.
Trust chooses faith over fear, confidence over cowardice & power over panic.
When we don’t know what else to do, trust is the most important thing we can do. We can exhibit that trust through prayer. We may not have the answers for cancer or bankruptcy, but we can trust the One who does.
What do you need to trust Him for today?
Every day can be a good day when you trust the promises of God.
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i am always comforted by your many prayers for me and my family. Thank you dear friend.
It is always my honor and my privilege! #TrustPrevails.
This was really powerful and you’re so right. Thank God that we can go to Him in prayer…that is the best thing we can do. Thank you for posting this. ~Shannan
Love this, sister! “The greatest gift we can give anyone is to pray and lead them to the One who not only knows their need but knows how to meet their need.” Such a good word, and I’ve BEEN THERE. Thank you for this great word. #TrustPrevails
Amen!
Thanks so much for sharing your heart on this, and pointing us to the Wonderful Counselor. 🙂
I have a friend who pointed out something similar to what you said here. She said God has finally shown her that Praying for people is not the least we can do for them, but the most we can do for them. I think she … and you… are right. thanks for confirming!
Thanks for this post. I have been trying to grow in my prayer life. It is so important for our walk, yet as you say, we often minimize its importance. (from #joyhopelive)
So very true! Thank you for sharing this encouragement on the Art of Home-Making Mondays!
Oh so many times I am in the throes of that prayer! SO many loved ones who suffer greatly, and I beg and plead for mercy on their behalf!
“Trust chooses faith over fear, confidence over cowardice & power over panic.” <— LOVE this.
Yes, when I feel helpless in what to do or say, I can always turn to prayer! Thank you for sharing this important truth.
You’re right. We sometimes say “I’m sorry that I can’t do anything but pray for you.” But the truth is that prayer is always the most powerful thing you can do for a person!
Thank you for sharing with us at #JoyHopeLive!
Amen! This message is so true and so needed. Over the years of being a prayer warrior, prayer partner for many and a person people always ask to pray when the trials of life hit, I finally think I grasp the vital element that prayer is in very need that we have. If I want my friends to know I care, I tell them I love them and I will pray.. I pray right then if I can but if I can’t, I write their name down and their need and I pray and will pray daily. I have seen the awesome fruit of my prayers but very few will come back to me and let me know what happened. I usually have to chase them down to find out but I will chase them and see what the fruit was from my prayers. Thank you for helping place prayer at the very top of the list for what to do AND for putting trusting God at the very top with prayer for we must trust God will hear and answer those prayers.