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Karen was a godly woman who lost her battle to cancer. In spite of the medical struggles she faced, and the pain that terrorized her body, Karen’s faith was immovable. She knew God to be her refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Her unwavering faith inspired a community of believers, as she held strong to the very end.
Though many prayed for Karen to be healed of cancer, God’s answer was “no.” As she said goodbye to all she loved here on earth, Karen was comforted in knowing that she worshiped a risen Savior who was familiar with suffering. She held tight to Jesus, and because she did her life boasted of God’s glory.
It can be very frustrating to be told no.
Many godly people were told no in Scripture. Moses was a man of great faith, but he wasn’t allowed to step foot in the promised land.
The apostle Paul was also told no by God. He knew suffering. He asked God to remove a “thorn in his flesh” – some sort of physical ailment – three times, yet he lived with it until his death.
Though God’s answer was “no,” Paul’s response was praise. Paul testified that he was strengthened by God’s all-sufficient grace. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10).
We all face challenges.
Each trial is a trust-opportunity. (CLICK to TWEET if you agree!)
Each obstacle you encounter comes with a choice. (Another TWEETABLE!)
Will you choose to trust in the power and sovereignty of God or will you choose to doubt?
Dear Lord, thank you for grace that strengthens me when I am weak. Your glory is my purpose. In Jesus’ name, amen.
FOR YOUR RESPONSE and REFLECTION: Can you think of a time when God has given you His strength when you felt weak? Take some time to thank Him.
Need PRAYER? CLICK HERE to leave a prayer request in the comments section. Then pause to pray for some of the other prayer needs on my wall. Encourage one another!
Love, love, love doing life with you!
Warm Blessings in Grace,
Gwen
Ready to trust God beyond your challenges? Get a copy of Trusting God, by Girlfriends in God Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, and Mary Southerland. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, free on-line video intros, and an index of trust-building Scriptures…this book is a resource you’ll refer to time-and-time again.
Comments 45
My friend Lisa has cancer and was told this week that she only has 2-3 weeks to live. She is a Christian and has been very strong during her battle. Please pray for her family and friends.
Father, the needs are great, but You are infinitely greater! I praise You Father, for You alone are worthy of our praise and worship. You have given Your Son, Jesus, to die in our place. You have provided salvation and an eternal relationship with You. You have pursued us, and loved us. Help us never to forget all that You have given to us in Christ. In the midst of trials and temptations to doubt you, help us to seek Your face through prayer and to hold fast to the promises found in Your Word. I praise You Father, because You are good and You are faithful and true. You are the source of all that we need. Thank You Father, for the good plans that You have in store for each of these that have petitioned for prayer. May they wait patiently for Your answer. For Your timing is perfect. I pray that You would strengthen each one and cause their faith to grow deeper and stronger as they trust in You. Thank You Father for all that You will accomplish for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I have been depressed for months now. I want to go back into cutting. I can’t seem to handle this life anymore. I have been rejected in all my employment attempts to get out of the company I am currently employed in. Having almost seven years of job experience I only get $370 a month (I live in the Philippines) ! To think I am working with a Christian organization. It’s depressing me big time! I have to earn for me and my mom. They always rejects me. I wonder if God is pissing me off this time. I want to hate him, but I know it wouldn’t help. Please pray for me.
I am praying that God heals you from your depression and cutting. Please know that all things will work out and that His grace is sufficient. Stay strong and be blessed.
Sojourner, I am definitely keeping you – your depression, your job situation, and your family – in my prayers. I understand being frustrated with God… but He knows and He sees, and He’s never going to leave you desolate or alone. WE don’t always understand God’s methods, but we can trust His heart. Praying for you my dear. Stay encouraged!
I AM 37 weeks pregnant, but featus has not grown much. I may be operated within 2 weeks.
Pl pray God’s will be done in my life.
Cecily Benjamin
India
My husband of 10 yrs and I have been separated for almost 1 year, he is currently with another woman who he has been with on and off the whole time. Please pray that God will convict him to give his life back to God and that God will restore our marriage. Pray that he will have a Damascus Road experience.
Dear Father, I come to you on behalf of Andrea and her husband. I pray that You would bring healing and restoration to their marriage. I pray that You would draw them to Yourself and cause them to walk in Your ways. I pray for Andrea, that You would strengthen her faith and that she would continue to seek Your face as she lifts up her husband in prayer. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pray for my daughter Tiffany to allow a Christian man to love her. Her father killed himself and she believes if he couldn’t love her, no man will ever love her. She is drinking to much alcohol to rid her of her loneliness.
Dear Lord,
I pray for Tiffany. I pray that she will love herself and see the unconditional love that you also have for her. Help her heart and eyes to be open to love from a Christian man who wants to share her life. Help her to know that her own father’s circumstances, as unfortunate as they are, do not mean that she is unlovable. Help her to take her pain to you and seek you, rather than numb the pain she is feeling in alcohol. Lord we pray for your power over this situation and pray that you will continue to walk close to Terri as well as she raises her daughter. Amen!
I have been having symptoms of cognitive decline. I am having a CT scan on Tuesday and have been referred to a neurologist. It looks like I might be in early stage dementia. Please pray for me.
Please also pray for my relationship with Jesus.
Pray for nephew Nick, Randomly shot in the eye with a paintball gun while awaiting a bus home from work in Chicago. Surgeons to determine today if his eye can be saved
Please pray for a girl I’ve been investing in for a few years. She is being bullied and stalked at school and she feels like no boys will ever like her. She is struggling with cutting again. Please lift her up in prayer!
Father, I praise You for You are all knowing and You know this girl for whom Rebecca seeks prayer. You know her heart. I pray that she would sense Your love and compassion. That she would treasure a relationship with You above all else. I thank You for Rebecca who has a heart to reach out to girls in need. Please give her wisdom and discernment as she shares the good news of the gospel with students. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dear Lord, please help all your children with their daily struggles. Open their hearts to always feel you near & trust that you will take care of them. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
I am needing payer in my daily life as a working mom, & duties as a house wife. I have been feeling very overwhelmed. Even though I pray I wake up tired just knowing I have to dress my 3 lil ones take them to school rush to work & evening get home dinner clean then to bed . also have 4 beautiful grandbabies, that I don’t have much time to spend with. My heart hurts that I am so grumpy to the kids & not enough mommy time. I pray Gods Peace & energy upon me, but Yet I am still grumpy. . We even pray in the car on the way to school,. I want to give my kids more laughs and smiles & luv.They are my gift from God, I know this but yet I battle. . Thank you,
O precious Father God. How we praise You and thank You for all that we need is found in You. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. I praise You that even in times of our unfaithfulness and doubt, You remain faithful and true. You alone are God over all and sovereign over all of life’s events. As we wait for Your answer to come, I pray that You would provide strength and deepen our faith in You. Thank You for drawing us to Yourself. May You receive all honor and praise as the answers become clear. May we be careful to give You thanks for hearing and answering our prayers. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Please pr
Please pray for me. I received an eviction notice and Imporaying that my landlord allow me to pay past due rent installments until I am able to get it paid in full. I am asking for a financial blessing because there have been days when me and my kids had no food to eat. Please pray that I find a resolution to my fincancial situation
Please pray for me, for a couple days now I have been waking up feeling awful. At first I was struggling with believing the I was forgiven of my sins, and I was being flooded with past mistakes, but then I realized I needed to put conplete trust in God and know that I am forgiven. But for two days now I have woken up feeling this gut feeling, it’s not about the same thing anymore. I’m just really confused and I hate feeling this way. Please pray for peace and a clear direction
Father God, I praise you that you are a God of peace. It is the enemy who seeks to destroy and cause fear. I ask You to provide peace and strength for Christina. Please help her to sense Your presence and to trust fully in Your almighty hand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Father GOD you said ask and it shall be given I pray that you lead Christina to a place of peace and direct her in the right direction. In the precious name of Jesus Amen.
Christina once the Lord has forgiven you, you are forgiven of all your sins you have declared to him. He is faithful, He loves you. The enemy wants you to doubt in your salvation and everlasting Love that God feels for you. I pray for peace and clear direction from the Lord. Keep seeking His face. The Lord has forgiven you of all your sins, do not take them back. Lay those awful thought at the feet of the cross. God Bless and protect you daily. In Jesus Name. AMEN!
Please lift up my daughter Tiffany. She was fired from her job recently and has applied for Delta airlines for employment. She is really now learning to have faith in the Lord.
Father, I come to you on behalf of Tiffany. I pray that You would help her to build faith monuments that remind her of Your answers to prayer. I pray that she would not lean on her own understanding, but that she would trust and have full faith in You. Please open doors to opportunities that will bring You honor and praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Heavenly Father, I pray for strength when I am weak, keep my focus on your love and your mercy. Father I know you know all, teach me to surrender all to you in my life. I pray for a ex-moter-in-law, she is so angry on a situation on in her home between her son. I believe she is showing signs of illness of alzheimer and dimension. May the Lord Bless all.
PLEASEPRAY FOR STRENGTH,THAT I WILL NO LONGER DOUBT OR SECOND GUESS,BUTLIVE RIGHTEOULY IN HIM
I’m trying to follow God’s direction for me and often become confused, frustrated and defeated. Please pray for me to be strong, remain faithful and trust His will for my life.
I having a hard time not doubting. I need prayer for strength and for direction and understanding.
Pray for me and family I need a full time job my family need pray
Please pray for my health. I have severe sinus and allergy issues. I have strength when I am weak.
Please pray for me and my boyfriend Pablo..i feel in my heart that GOD is working in us but things are getting hard….May His will be done
Please pray for my husband’s work to improve. He owns his own business and works hard, but something beyond our control always seems to go wrong. He is discouraged. And pray for my own unbearable anxiety and depression. It scares me – but God is good and strong.
Father, I pray for Laurel and her husband. I pray that You would give them strength to hold fast to the promises of Your word found in Jeremiah 29:11. Help them to know that as Your children You have plans for them, to give them hope and a future. I pray that no matter how the circumstances appear, they would trust and wait in faith for Your answers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evangelist
Three years ago I began to suffer with anxiety attacks. The attacks have rendered me unable to drive. Prayers and medication have not moved this condition. Most areas of my life have been hampered and hindered by this condition including ministry. If the answer is no please pray that God show me where I go from here.
I would appreciate prayers for my unbelief. God has been faithful but as time stretches on and the answer is No, I am having a hard time not doubting. My heart breaks everyday as my husband who is not home and is with another woman. My only hope is in Jesus. Thank you.
Our world is in a mess! Please pray for families to become stronger in The Lord! God is good! He is our answer!
Please pray for me to rely on Gods leadership, and strength to follow His path and purpose for my life. I feel lost and I’m praying His guidance will lead toward His purpose for my life. Please pray that path will be revealed soon.
Please pray for my son, Joseph. He is having a extreme struggle with war related PTSD, he is coming to stay with me, pray for me for wisdom as well.
Father God, I join Marsha in prayer for Joseph. I pray that you would heal his heart and mind. I pray that he would be renewed in his mind as he reads Your word and that he would find peace as he spends time with You in prayer. Thank you Father for hearing our prayers and answering our cries for help. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you for your prayers, Gwen, that means so much to me, I am trusting God for Joseph’s complete healing.
Please pray for my family my husband is really sick and his last paycheck was last Thursday.We filed for disability and that doesn’t start until November or later but our trust is still in God.
Please pray that me and my husband get back together we have been seperated for seven years and please pray for my mother she is 70 years old and she adopted 6 children and some of them are giving her trouble. I thank you for your prayers in Jesus name Amen.
Dear Father,
I come to You on behalf of Launa and her husband. I pray that they would first seek to love You above all else and then You would also restore their marriage. Cause them to live out Ephesians 5:21-33. I also ask that You would give strength and wisdom to Launa’s mom and help her to rely fully on You. Thank you Father for Your love and mercy that is extravagantly given to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Please pray that God gives me wisdom and clarity to make the best decisions for my future. I am in a season of transition and many things are out of balance. Home life, work life, health, and mental stability. Thank you in advance for your prayers. May God bless you and all who read this request.