Have you ever prayed for something for a really long time and wondered if God was even listening? Maybe you’ve been praying for a family member to get better, for a friend to come to know Jesus, or for something hard in your life to change. And maybe you’re starting to think, “Should I just give up?”

DON’T GIVE UP! The Bible tells us a story about a man named Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. They wanted to have a baby SO badly, and they prayed about it for years and years and years. They got older and older, and still no baby came. I bet they wondered sometimes if God heard their prayers!

But God DID hear them! One day an angel appeared to Zacharias and said, “Your prayers have been answered! You and Elizabeth are going to have a son, and you’ll name him John!” And that baby—John—grew up to be John the Baptist, the man who told everyone that Jesus was coming!

God answers prayers in His perfect timing. Sometimes He says “Yes” right away. Sometimes He says “Wait—I have a better plan.” And sometimes He says “No, because I have something even better for you.” But He ALWAYS hears your prayers!

Think About It: Is there something you’ve been praying about for a long time? Don’t give up! Keep praying and trusting God. Start a prayer journal where you write down what you’re praying for and the date. Then when God answers (even if it’s different from what you expected), write down how He answered and the date. You’ll start to see that God really does hear and answer your prayers—in His perfect time and in His perfect way!