There is no denying that times are hard. Every news broadcast reflects turmoil, uncertainty, corruption, and victimization running rampant. Communicating with friends, neighbors, relatives, and coworkers reveal a series of struggles and challenges. Some difficulties are obvious while others are undetectable on the surface. Part of John 16:33 tells us that “…in this world, you will have trouble.” We don’t want trouble. But trouble doesn’t care about what we want.

We offer prayer petitions to God, requesting His intervention in the situations that burden our hearts. Sometimes we pray about the situations, highlighting an issue or need. Unfortunately, we are guilty of sometimes ending the prayer and immediately picking up the burden that we just presented. We pray about the need without releasing it to God. We pray with trepidation instead of expectation. We pray out of fear instead of praying in faith.

We say that we want the Lord to increase our faith. Then, when He provides opportunities to grow in that area, we remain stagnant out of fear. God knows and sees everything. He holds ALL power in his hands. Nothing is hidden from him. Hebrews 4:13 begins “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight…” All means everything. Every pain. Every distress. Every disappointment. Every motive. Every slight. Every miscalculation. Every situation.

Praying to an omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent (in all places simultaneously) God means that we can pray with confidence. The Lord is faithful. He will never leave nor forsake us. Even when we don’t understand The Master’s plan – we can follow the instruction in Hebrews 10:23 to “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

Let the faithfulness of the Lord be the source of your faith. Reflect on your own life. Even when situations were dire and difficult, God pulled you through. You’ve been delivered, rescued, and healed from situations and circumstances that tried to rob you of your joy, faith, hope, love and peace. But thanks be to God, the Lord allowed you to prevail and even grow through unnerving and heartbreaking circumstances. The Lord has not brought you this far to leave you. He has wonderful blessings ahead for you – things that He wants to show you, ways that He wants to use you. The more that you acknowledge your need for His direction, the more He will direct you. The more that you seek Him, the more He will reveal himself to you. The more that you exercise faith, the more godly confidence you will gain as you cultivate a faith-filled lifestyle. Why can you pray with confidence? Because John 16:33 acknowledges that we are already victorious! We need only receive and walk in the victory that already belongs to us through Christ Jesus! The full verse of John 16:33 says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I encourage you to cultivate a relationship with God and persevere in your faith as stated Hebrews 10:19-25:

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Life is full of peaks and valleys. Unexpected trouble is always potentially right around the corner. Unfortunately, when we find ourselves in a valley, our prayer life also tends to suffer. Many times, the pain is connected with a sense of loss. Situations like a broken relationship, death of a loved one, unemployment, displacement following a natural disaster, financial crisis, difficult medical condition, or even missed opportunities can plunge us into an abyss of uncertainty and fear. What’s worse, these difficulties can have a domino effect where one problem leads to another and another. For example, unemployment can strain finances which then impacts relationships. In a parallel manner, the spiritual implications have a cumulative effect as well. For example, a spirit of lack can bring its buddies restlessness, jealousy, shame, and unforgiveness along for the ride. Before you know it, you may find yourself completely overwhelmed.

During a crisis, we go into survival mode. We (consciously or subconsciously) try to conserve our energy. We limit our interactions and conversations, not wanting to exert any extra energy while attempting to find relief from the painful situation. It is especially in these difficult moments that we need to pray, but are the least likely to do so.

Prayer is as natural as breathing. It is a conscious connection – an ongoing conversation with our Heavenly Father that has no barriers or restrictions. As long as you can think, you can pray. If you remain in constant conversation, asking God for wisdom, protection, provision, peace, etc., then praying through a extremely painful circumstance becomes second nature.

The enemy wants to distract you and disrupt your spiritual disciplines, especially prayer. When elements of loss, death, destruction, or chaos are around you, presenting your petition to God is a powerful way to regain focus. Humbling ourselves before God gets His attention. The greater the pain, the greater the need for God’s touch. Prayer is a confession, admission, and petition. It is confessing that God is greater than the pain. It is admitting a need for God’s direction and intervention. It is trusting God and asking for His best resolution – not the solution that you believe is best, but the one that He knows is best because He knows the future and you don’t.

The next time life throws you a curveball, be defiant and rebellious – pray! Pray through your fears, tears, worry, hurt, disappointment, rejection, guilt, shame, loss, misery, hopelessness, and grief. Take comfort in knowing that Jesus has already experienced every form of pain imaginable yet has overcome the world. Although you may feel weak when you begin praying in the midst of your pain, the moment you take your concerns to God – the benefits begin, starting with a wondrous sense of peace. Peace brings along its buddies joy, strength, hope, and faith. As the gospel song famously states “just a little talk with Jesus makes it right”.