By Andrea Merrell

And since we know he hears us when we make our requests,

we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 John 5:15 NLT

My friend was frustrated. Disheartened. She had prayed for a situation that only seemed to get worse with time. Her faith was shaken. She wondered if God was even listening.

When we pray and don't see immediate results, we often wonder if our prayers are in vain, yet we are instructed in the Scriptures to pray always, placing our faith, hope, and trust in the Lord.

Sometimes we find ourselves praying about the same situation for years. That was my experience when my son and daughter went down the road of the prodigal. But God taught me many lessons during that time. One is that He hears every single cry of our heart and sees every tear. And He is always working on our behalf, even when we can’t see, feel, or understand.

God wants us—His children—to pour out our petitions before Him, then thank Him in advance for the answer. In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes:

When you bring me your prayer requests, lay out your concerns before me. Speak to me candidly; pour out your heart. Then thank me for the answer that I have set into motion long before you can discern results. When your requests come to mind again, continue to thank me for the answers that are on the way. If you keep on stating your concerns to me, you will live in a state of tension. ~ Jesus

Never stop believing, and never stop praying. But most importantly, never stop thanking God.

Your answer is on the way.