January 4

Our Prayers Have Been Heard
 
“Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.” 
Daniel 10:12 
 
It can be easy to for us to wonder if our prayers are making it past the ceiling.  We have prayed, and prayed, and prayed some more, yet we see nothing.  We see no evidence that any change has taken place.  We see no indication that we have been heard.  We see no signal that anything is going to happen.  Regardless of how isolated we may feel in the midst of prayer, we need to remember this simple truth:  our prayers have been heard.  Our pain has been seen.  Our tears have been noticed.  Answers, healing and comfort may not have arrived yet, but we have caught the attention of the Almighty.  Not having heard the answer does not mean that the answer is not on its way.  Unhealed pain is not an absolute indication that healing is not coming.  A present lack of comfort does not suggest that there will be no comfort.  Our confidence is in the faithfulness of the One who hears, who sees, and who notices.  Victory began with the first prayer that was uttered, the first twinge of pain that was felt, and the first tear that was cried.  The heart of God is not unmoved by our suffering.  We can trust that He is already working and has already worked all things for our good.  We may not have seen it yet, but it will certainly happen.  Our prayers have been heard, and the answers are on the way.  Our pain has been seen, and healing is on the way.  Our tears have been noticed, and comfort is on the way.  It’s not a matter of if, it’s only a matter of when.