The Heart that Keeps Knockin’
Hey there, friend, thanks for stoppin’ in to join me for a few minutes on this ol’ front porch! If you’ve ever waited on God for something your heart could barely hold, then you and Hannah could be sittin’ on the same porch swing. Hannah wasn’t offering up quick, polite prayers the way you might toss crumbs to a chicken that’s already peckin’ around your feet. No, her prayers were the kind that come from a soul stretched thin, the kind that feel more like wrestlin’ a stubborn ol’ mule that plum refuses to budge no matter how gently you tug on the rope. Year after year she carried an ache that settled down deep into her bones, yet she kept showing up before God with the quiet grit of a mama bear guardin’ a den that isn’t full yet. She prayed with the steady determination of a lil’ ol’ woodpecker tappin’ on the same tree trunk long after everyone else thinks it should just give up. And in that long, tear stained waitin’, she lived out the truth that Jesus taught in Luke 18:1, that we “should always pray and not give up,” even when our hearts feel real empty and our hope feels mighty thin.
Scripture tells us in Isaiah 40:31 that “those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” And Psalm 27:14 reminds us to “wait on the Lord and be of good courage.” Waiting is plum hard because it feels like nothing is happening. But, friend, roots git to growin’ the deepest in the dark. Persistence in prayer is like plantin’ seeds in rocky soil. You may not see anything sproutin’, but heaven is working underground. And Hebrews 10:23 calls us to “hold fast to our hope because God is faithful,” even when our circumstances look about as promisin’ as an ol’ leaky barn roof in a big thunderstorm.
If you’ve ever raised children, you know sure ain’t all sunshine and lemonade. Some days it plum feels like herdin’ barn cats that don’t want to be herded. The world, the flesh, and the devil tug at them like three mischievous lil’ ol’ raccoons fightin’ over the same biscuit. But there’s power in persistence. If you’ve got a wayward child or a loved one wanderin’ off like a donkey that spotted an open gate, keep right on prayin’. Galatians 6:9 promises us that we’ll reap a good harvest if we don’t give up.
Friend, God hasn’t left you. He’s right there beside you, even when life feels sho’-nuff’ like a muddy hog pen, and you’re the one that’s plum stuck in the middle of it. You can regain what the enemy stole, even if it’s just one inch at a time. Just keep right on leaning on God’s grace, not your own grit.
Father, thank You for giving me strength when I feel worn thin. Help me keep praying even when I don’t see results. Remind me that You’re working in ways I can’t see. Teach me to trust You with every inch of the journey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Well, now, there it is, friend. So, as you move ahead into the rest of your day, remember that persistence in prayer just ain’t about pushing God to do what you are askin’ for. It’s about anchorin’ your heart real good. It’s plum about trusting that the same God that guides sparrows, squirrels, and even those unpredictable lil’ ol’ barn cats knows exactly how to guide you, too. Keep right on prayin’, keep right on trustin’, and keep right on walkin;. God’s just not done yet, and neither are you.
With joy,
Gwen
