Prayers of Hope

Just this week I’ve talked to five people that are in mourning.

• Mourning initial cancer diagnosis.

• Mourning death of loved ones.

• Mourning loss of a relationship.

• Mourning terminal cancer diagnosis.

• Mourning loss of a business.

With all five people, they have lots and lots of support. People mourning with them. People encouraging them. People praying with and for them.

And all the people in prayer said very similar things. They were praying with a solution in mind.

• Praying for healing.

• Praying for peace.

• Praying for strength.

• Praying for restoration.

• Praying for recovery.

Now I don’t doubt the sincerity of the people. I truly believe that their hearts are in the right place. But I wonder if their prayers were hopeful enough. Were they looking to God to do what they wanted or to build hope in them?

I don’t mean that the people and their prayers were not made in faith. But I do mean that their prayers were shortsighted. They didn’t allow God to do the unusual. To give them hope beyond anything they’d ever thought of.

Consider the prayer of the early church when Peter and John are released from prison and warned not to speak about Jesus again. They didn’t pray for safety. They didn’t pray for protection. Heck, they didn’t even pray against their enemies.

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

Acts 4:29,30 NIV

They prayed for God’s power to speak with great boldness. They also prayed for God to confirm their words with His miracles. This is how God is most glorified.

If you find yourself needing hope, check out what you’re praying for.

• Are you praying for some immediate fix or is it to speak with boldness?

• Are you praying to feel better or is it to live boldly before a watching world?

• Are you praying for what will make you feel better or what will make God known?

I never said that following God would be easy. Jesus Himself said that life would have trouble.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 NIV

To be truly hopeful means to release my rights for what’s best. To let God be God and follow His direction.