It was 1988 and I was 27-years-old. I had just experienced the death of my paternal Grandfather. I was not dealing well with his death. I wasn’t really angry at God because he died. I was just sad. Grandpa was a kind caring man. He was a faithful husband who stood by Grandma even when she developed Alzheimer’s disease in 1976. They stayed in their home until they couldn’t manage there anymore. Then they moved in with my parents.

Early in 1986, a decision was made to put Grandma in a nursing home, something my Grandpa was trying very hard not to do. After she was put into the nursing home, Grandpa’s health began to decline. I was hoping he would recover enough to enjoy his life a little before he died, but that wasn’t in God’s plans.

One day I was in church, and I sent up a silent prayer to God. I said “God, if I’m going to get through this, please give me a baby to hold.”

I was sitting in church when a baby was placed in my lap. The baby sat quietly throughout the church service. At the end of the service the parent came to get their child. I asked them how they knew I needed to hold a baby that day. He said, “I didn’t but God did.”

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 NIV)

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig-tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:22 NIV)

“Wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious
he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.” (Isaiah 30:19 NIV)

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV)

God really does answer prayer.

Connie Mohney
Illustrator Subscriber

(To access the entire “There is ALWAYS Hope” devotional series, please click here.)