No Prayer. No Power. No Results

There are many devotional bible plans about prayer, countless books on prayer and the importance of prayer. Nothing shakes you more than when it hits so close to home.

My daughter, Julianna, turned eight in September and I was overjoyed. For the first time, Julianna understood her birthday and had a very extensive list of presents she wanted to include an iPhone, cute shoes and a fur to match. Typical eight-year-old girlie stuff, but it was much more to me than that. Three years ago, I did not understand the words my daughter spoke. She could not group words together to form a sentence, she could not write her name, she could not speak the alphabet and she was socially inactive.

Throughout my pregnancy, I was in and out of jail. My stress levels were through the roof and I was facing up to 15 years in prison. The doctors continued to warn me that she would have learning disabilities and social incapacitates. There were no other complications during pregnancy or delivery. As she grew, I noticed she was not pronouncing words and she seemed very “behind” in talking. When she reached 4 years old, I began to worry. Thinking the worst. One year of speech therapy and money down the drain, there was not much hope. Her birthday is late so she had an extra year to get ready for Kindergarten.

At that time, I had no idea that an incoming Kindergarten student was to know cite words, how to write their full name and how to cut. (I truly thought that was what Kindergarten was for.) I was out of funds and out of time. I threw my hands up and said: “ok Lord, I have nothing else to give.” He quickly responded and said, “why didn't you ask me?”

Her Kindergarten year was tough. Constant calls from her teacher. Julie would get so frustrated in class that she cried… sometimes nonstop. By winter break, I began to pray.

I was ashamed and intimidated to go to God and ask for this help. I thought to myself, “if I wasn’t caught up in myself when I was pregnant, she would be better.” God continued to speak to me “you still haven’t asked me.” Valentine’s Day 2016, I swallowed my pride, accepted my shame and put my daughter above my feelings. . . I called out to Him.

“Good morning God. I am here again. Give my Julianna words. Give my Julianna confidence. God, I just want to know what she is saying. I know I could have done better, but it's not her fault.” I watched War Room and tried to change the words to reflect my situation. Sounds stupid, but I was exhausting every option.

One morning, Julianna woke up, grabbed a Bible, opened it and started to just say words like she was reading. I couldn’t understand what she was saying, but I took the gesture as a sign that God was hearing my prayers and that things were going to turn around. I began to read the Bible to her and teaching her to pray every night.

On Sunday, October 14, 2018, during our Sunday School Review, Julianna stood up with her class and recited their subject and memory verse with boldness, “God Shows His Power . . . And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. 1 Kings 18:39.” My eyes filled with water, I gathered myself quickly as she sat down and looked back to find my thumbs up.

If I did not believe in the power of prayer, I strongly believe in it now. For years I stressed over the worst scenarios - what if she can’t talk? What if she has to go to a special school? Where is the money going to come from? I forgot to relax and pray. I forgot that my prayers are powerful. I forgot that my prayers were reaching God. I forgot to come to God with boldness, forgiveness, gratefulness and expectancy. I forgot that the most healthiest lifestyle is not only eating right and exercising but having a relationship with God through prayer.

If you are waiting on something . . . waiting on someone . . . waiting for a sign . . . don’t stop praying. God WILL hear you. God WILL respond. There is power in your words. He is waiting to hear from you with open loving arms. Do not stress over what GOD is controlling . . . Relax. Pray. Repeat.