God still answers prayers
God still answers prayers!
God still answers prayers! God answers my prayers through His will, so I know that I can walk through some terrifying times with his help.
My children are high school age and are getting ready for college. I wish I could say that getting ready for college is great fun, but the thought of college is terrifying. The thought of my child being more than six hours away from home is something I am attempting to accept. As I write this post, I am holding back tears from thinking about the most difficult motherhood transition that I will face.
This is not my first terrifying transition with my son. In 7th grade, my son complained of chest pains while playing video games.
This is not my first terrifying transition with my son. In 7th grade, Jake complained of chest pains while playing video games. We called our doctor, who told us that he might have an EKG if it ever happened again. Shortly after that conversation, we ended up in the emergency room because of the recurring chest pains. Jake was able to see an amazing cardiologist within days of his emergency room visit. The cardiologist gave him an EKG monitor to wear at home and school in case it happened again.
A couple of days after receiving his monitor, my husband received a call at work from the cardiologist. He wanted to know where my son was and what he was doing. My husband was at work, and my son was at school. The cardiologist told my husband that Jake pushed the button on his EKG monitor. His heart clocked over 250 beats per minute.
Jake was scheduled for heart surgery within a few days. The thought of my child having heart surgery was terrifying. Thankfully, I could relate to Hannah in 1 Samuel and how she made the terrifying transition to release her son to the Lord.
1 Samuel 1 is one of the most intense chapters in the Bible for mothers everywhere.
1 Samuel 1 is one of the most intense chapters in the Bible for mothers everywhere. I wonder how Hannah felt when she prepared to give Samuel to the Lord, knowing that she would only see him once a year.
Hannah promised to give Samuel to the Lord, but I am sure that transition was just as terrifying as heart surgery!
Hannah’s story teaches us three important aspects to answered prayers. First, we must pray until we receive an answer. Secondly, accepting God’s will is the answer to prayers. Finally, God also gives us peace to guard our hearts and prepare the way for answered prayers.
Hannah’s story teaches us to pray until you receive an answer.
At the beginning of 1 Samuel 1, we find Hannah praying and weeping to the Lord for a child of her own. She does not stop praying until Eli blesses her in verse 17 with, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
John 14:13 says, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
With our son’s heart surgery, we prayed for his protection, his healing, and for God’s hand to be evident in every step of the process. Not only did we see God’s hand in every aspect of the process, we felt God’s peace when he answered our prayers.
Next, Hannah remembers that it is God’s will, not her will. Her son belonged to God.
In 1 Samuel 1: 11, Hannah made the promise to give her son “to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” Hannah promised to give her Son to the Lord and to have him set apart to glorify the Lord.
I am sure there were many times that Hannah wanted to retract her promise to give Samuel to the Lord. However, God answers our prayers according to His will. Sometimes the answer is “no.”
Romans 8:28 NIV says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
I clearly remember one day I was driving to work. The morning sky was beautiful, and the mountains were a luscious green. At that moment, I spoke out loud and gave my son to the Lord. I asked that God’s will be done in Jake’s life, including his surgery.
This was the moment that I knew that God was in control, and God’s peace fell on me like a blanket. I did not know how the surgery would end, but I knew that I could be confident that God’s will would be done.
Hannah trusts God in His perfect peace.
In 1 Samuel 2, Hannah’s prayer begins the chapter with, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in our deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
Please consider reading 1 Samuel 2 to hear the remainder of Hannah’s prayer as she gives glory to God.
Philippians 4:7 NIV says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When the day of my son’s surgery arrived, we all approached the hospital with great peace. Older men preparing for surgery commented on our family’s calmness while waiting to head into the surgery room.
I am happy to report that God still answers prayers! Jake had heart surgery 4 ½ years ago, and God completely healed him through surgery.
Christian, God still answers prayer! Take some time today to give God your prayers and trust Him!
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