Dolly's Sharing

Romans 8:25 (ESV)
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience

One of the most difficult aspects of prayer is persevering when it seems like God is taking forever to answer. It’s easy to lose hope and give up, especially when the situation appears impossible. Yet, deep within, that tiny mustard seed of faith kept whispering into my heart, reminding me that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). After all, He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Days turned into months, months into years – and eventually, the years blurred into decades as I wrestled through disappointments, tears and heartaches, ultimately losing track of time. This was the journey of my long persevering prayer for the salvation of my late husband. I once read a book about a wife who prayed for eleven years before her husband came to Christ. At the time, I took comfort in knowing I had only been praying for a couple of years. With renewed hope and faith that a miracle might unfold in the near future, I pressed on – praying with joy and expectation.

But all too soon, the eleventh year came and nothing happened. By the fifteenth year, instead of witnessing a breakthrough, my marriage came to an end. My heart sank. God remained silent, even as my children and I continued to pray without ceasing. You might wonder why we kept praying for someone who had already left us. The only answer I can give with certainty is because of God’s overwhelming, divine love.

It’s that love which set us free, taught us to forgive, and empowered us to keep loving – even when it hurt. That may sound simple, but trust me, it was anything but easy. It was a long, painful journey. Yet we are deeply grateful to God for enabling us to walk through it, pouring His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). For it is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

After nearly 36 years of waiting and trusting God, our long-held prayer was finally answered. We learned that he had been baptized in July 2018 and we rejoiced over his salvation. Much of those 36 years of intercession were a solitary journey with the Lord, until my children joined me along the way. Praise God for His perfect timing – just four months later, he went home to be with the Lord.

It is often said that perseverance is the true test of genuineness in the Christian life, and this journey certainly tested ours. Yet, through every season of waiting, God sustained us, strengthening our hearts to keep believing. We are deeply grateful for His grace that carried us through the years, allowing us to witness this long-awaited answer to our prayers: the salvation of the man with whom I once shared my life, and the father of our two wonderful children.

This testimony is not only about his salvation, but also a witness to the power of persevering prayer and the beauty of waiting on God. I’ve learned that perseverance is often less about strength and more about surrender – it’s found in the quiet tears and whispered prayers offered in the dark. And yet, God honours it. He sustains us through the waiting, and in His perfect time, He answers.

Thank You, Abba Father, for growing our faith and giving us the opportunity to proclaim Your goodness. Truly, You are worthy to be praised and exalted!