I prayed to the Lord and He answered me,

He freed me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4

The fast is over. There was no breakthrough with Nathan. Now what? Did I really expect anything to happen? I’m not sure I did, yet somehow I’m still disappointed. I’m tired of waiting, but what choice do I have? Did Joseph ever give up on his dream? Did he ever question if it was from God? We know Job wondered what God was doing and why? And look how God responded to him. Maybe questioning the all-powerful Almighty God is not the way to go. Then again, David often cried out to God and asked why. So, well, maybe it is okay after all. I certainly don’t have all the answers, and the One who does is being silent on the matter. Thinking back, though, reminds me that God has spoken to me in the past on the matter of Nathan. Was I not listening? Of course, faith is the answer. Faith that God is listening (1 John 5:14-15); faith that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37); faith that God is for me and not against me (Romans 8:31). And perseverance, and waiting are necessary. Prayer is making a difference because the Bible says “the prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

What if I need a different focus? Keep praying of course, but focus on the One who can take away my fears. Ask Him to free me from the fears I have that Nathan won’t ever come back to the Lord. Free me from the fears that he’s not really saved even though he accepted Jesus at a young age, was baptized and gave his testimony, and followed Jesus all through college. I found a letter he wrote to me in 2008, almost nine years ago. He was still following the Lord. I cried a lot when I read it. Lastly, free me from the fears that there is something I’m supposed to do on top of praying and I’m not seeing it. Our fears as well as our pain can keep us from hearing God clearly. What are your fears in regard to your prodigal? They are not from God. There is no fear in love for perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). And we know that God is love (1 John 4:8). What if I make Jesus my one thing like Mary of Bethany did when she sat at His feet and listened to the One she loved (Luke 10:39)?

Keep focusing on the promises. He works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28) and He is able to do immeasurably more than we can think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Keep praising God. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). He is worthy of our praise because He is God, not because of what He does for us. And by all means, cry out to the Lord and see if He won’t answer your prayer to free you from all your fears. You may have to do it more than once, because if you are like me, I tend to take my focus off of Jesus and put it back on my problems. But even now as I finish this devotional, I feel free. My fears are gone. God has got this! I prayed to the Lord and He answered me; He freed me from all my fears. Thank You Jesus! I praise Your name!