I never truly understood what true friends were until this past year. I had always had friends that I could sit next to at a football game or eat lunch with, but I always walked away feeling that the closest friends I had were my siblings. While nothing is wrong with that, it helps to have best friends who don’t have to like you because of a blood connection. Anyways, this past year at college, I saw God answer prayers I had grown tired of praying.

At my college, we have to go to chapel three times a week and during this time, we worship and listen to a message. One of the songs that we sang a few times was a modern rendition of the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” As stated above, I never really had deep friendships up from K-12 grade so I would normally sing this song and move on unaffected by it. 

However, there is something so powerful about singing “what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer” while standing in the middle of ones He’s answered.

The first day I got to Grace College, I met the people who would become my second family. I quite literally was able to stand in the middle of a group of people that didn’t know they were answered prayers. The sheer amount of times I sat in utter shock that God truly provided me with exactly what I needed is more than I can count. 

I say all of this only to ask how many times do we go to God in prayer knowing He can fix/answer it but not necessarily believing He will? 

I always knew that God could answer any prayer I had, but if I’m being truthful, I did not always believe He would. 

A head full of “God-knowledge” and a faithful heart are two entirely different things. It took me until this past year to understand that.

Philippians 4:6 says that, “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” I love this verse because it does not have any exceptions to what to pray for/about. It simply says to pray. 

I write all of this to encourage you to believe God can and will answer prayers as He seems fit. I always knew God could bring me the friends I needed/need, but I had quietly given up on the belief that He would. He obviously proved me wrong and caused me to reset my prayer life to not only be full of the knowledge that He is able, but also with the belief that He will. 

If God can split seas and cause the rain to cease with two words, He can definitely listen to and answer prayers, so lift them up to Him. He listens and draws us closer through our prayers so use this direct line of communication to deepen your faith in Him!