Daily Power #273

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me . . . When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you.” (Jonah 2:2, 7)

I’ve been married for over twenty-six years now, and as I’ve grown in my wisdom as a husband, I’ve learned an important lesson about how to respond when Amy’s upset. Most of the time when my wife tells me about her problems and struggles, she doesn’t want me to fix them—she just wants me to care about what she’s experiencing. Once I realized she didn’t want me to brainstorm solutions or tell her how to fix her problems, it took a lot of pressure off. She just wanted me to listen with my heart and care that she was hurting.

And Amy is not the only one who wants to be heard in the midst of life’s struggles—we all do. It’s only human to want to be comforted and assured that everything will be okay when life seems to turn upside down. It’s what we did naturally as little kids, and while we learn to hide it and defend our hearts as adults, we still want to feel like our pain matters to someone. I’m convinced we long to believe it matters to God. Even if he doesn’t answer our prayer the way we want or when we want, if we believe he hears us, then we will continue to trust him.

Today know without a doubt that your Father in heaven hears your prayers. He’s listening. And he cares. What matters to you matters to him.

Power Lift

I’m so grateful, God, that you hear my heart even when I don’t have the words to express what I’m feeling. I praise you today for loving me so well.