“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.”
John 16:33 NIV
When things go wrong, my first instinct isn’t always a posture of prayer. Instead, I often adopt a posture of self-help. I act as if my theology is something along the lines of, “I’ve got this,” instead of, “God’s got this.”
You might not say it out loud, but deep within you, you might be thinking, “God is great and all, but if I want something done, I’ll have to do it myself.” And let’s face it, so many of us have poured out our hearts to God, only to feel like our prayers were just an echo in the darkness.
I found myself falling into this way of thinking recently when one of my children was facing a particularly difficult challenge that had us all in tears. I sat awake many nights in a row devising plans to “fix the problem.” I thought about ways to confront, correct, or control what was happening.
One morning, after a particularly long night, I was studying a verse in John. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). I kept looking at the tiny, three-word exclamation in the middle of that verse: “But take heart!”
Jesus didn’t say, “Take matters into your own hands.”
He didn’t say, “Take control.”
He said, “Take heart.”
Taking heart is not a posture of self-help. It’s the posture of humility. Indeed, it’s the posture of prayer. Prayer is the acknowledgement that we’re not running the show — God is. It’s a way of saying, “I trust Your ways more than mine, Lord.”
One prayer really can change everything, so don’t underestimate the power of your prayers. Don’t fall for the lie that your prayers have to be said a certain way to count. Don’t give up asking. Not now! God hears you, and no prayer is ever, ever wasted. Ask and ask again because even when our prayers don’t change our circumstances, those prayers are changing us.
Don’t give up now. You are never as powerful as that moment when you fall to your knees in prayer.
This was a perfect description of me! I seem to forget that God has this. So your message is a good reminder.
I’m glad to know that this message resonated with you, Madeline! Happy New Year! ~ Jennifer Dukes Lee
Jennifer, thank you for your words today. What was most inspiring to me was your statement “Ask and ask again because even when our prayers don’t change our circumstances, those prayers are changing us.” I had never thought of prayer that way and now I have a deeper appreciation of my time with God.
Kate, I’m really glad that line in particular stood out to you. It’s been a game-changer for me so many times!
Dear Jennifer…….I was so glad to hear your wise words today. First, I am going through the book 100 Days of Strength in any Struggle for the second time and it is amazing how my spiritual growth has increased since I went through the book over a year and a half ago. It amazes me reading what I journeled the last time and I certainly have read some of your stories already. I am on day 74 today. Second, I have already written those 3 tiny words “But take heart” on a post it and placed it on my computer so that I can see it. My 2025 was a very sad and dark year for me. There has not been much progress on it, but I have stopped crying about not having my prayers answered. They have in small ways if I pay attention to my Holy Spirit. Sometimes we miss messages that are sent to us if we are having “Pity Parties” for ourselves like I used to do, but now following all the (in)courage communities devotions every day, I have learned so much about so many things. My gratitude to all of you for that. I never doubt God anymore as I know He is all powerful and can do things that we cannot even imagine. So I just keep praying and I know someday something GOOD will happen for me. We know that God is always at work behind the scenes and we just need to be patient until that Day comes. I like you for years, thought “Oh,I can figure out how to fix this”. I spent many sleepless nights and days doing what I thought would work, but I was wrong and I went back to one of my favorite prayers, “The Serenity Prayer” I would read it every day, but I didn’t realize I was making a big mistake. I thought I had the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference..Well, I was wrong by thinking I had the Wisdom to know the difference. My job when I was working for 45 years required me to solve every problem, so my muscle memory kept coming back to me. Finally, I realized I didn’t know the difference and had to go back to God and ask for forgiveness to think I could solve these very difficult family problems. About a year and a half ago something “clicked”in my mind and I knew I had to go to God, not myself if these heartbreaking problems could be changed. God is our Perfect person and all powerful. So I pray and wait for something good will happen and I hope it might happen in the New Year, 2026. Thank you Jennifer. I send my love and gratitude to you and all (in)courage community members for increasing my spiritual growth over the years I found you. It is priceless!!….Betsy Basile
Betsy,
On behalf of the whole team, I want to thank you for this heartfelt message. You are the reason why do what we do here. We want to give you hope in hard times, and joy in all seasons. Thanks for sharing with us!
Thanks, Jennifer! That’s the best advice I’ll get today!
Hi Irene! Glad to know these words encouraged you today!
Amen!! It is so!!
Thanks for joining me here today, Dee!
Jennifer we can when need prayer for something. Instead of going to God first in Prayer for the suitation. Go to a friend or family member say will you pray for me in this situation. I done that in past God has said yes Dawn it’s good to get others to pray as well. But you should have come to me first in this suitation. It’s just panic when it a bad suitation or something gone wrong that I go others first instead of God first. God has at time made me wait and why he has done that is for to teach me to keep trusting him in it all. That God will answer my prayer request in his own time not mine. God’s timing is always perfect and it teaches me patients in the weight. Even though I have to admit I don’t like having to wait. I expect God to answer my prayer right away and not have to wait. I expect God to answer my prayer my way. But when God doesn’t I can get upset at that time and if have to wait and keep trusting God will answer my prayer request or prayers. Then down the line I looked at the prayers God has answered not the way I wanted but God’s way. That God’s was right to make me wait and answer it his way. As God knew bet for me at that time. Sometimes like God did with Moses he didn’t remove the Red Sea as he could have. God parted it for them. But helped them walk through it and trust him every step of the way. God doesn’t always remove our problems but he will make away to get through them with his help. But we just have to keep looking on to God and keep trusting him through them all. Know God know best. Plus stand on the promises of his word. I say Amen to that. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
As always, I appreciate hearing your response to my (in)courage articles. It’s such a joy to read about your faith and the ways that God is growing you, year by year. Thanks, Dawn! You’re a blessing!
Thank you for your beautiful reply Jennifer. I love you all in Christ incourage and the devotional you all write. I learnt so much from them and have grown in Jesus more because of them also. I keep you all and your families in my prayer the other side of thd world in Northern Ireland. I might not ever meet you all this side of the world. I say I’ll not. But when I get to Glory one day I will give you all a big hug say thank you for taking the time to right the devotionals how they blessed me. I am so glad we are all Sister’s in Christ I say Amen to that. Thank you for all of you that right the devotionals. Big hugs and all my love in Christ. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx ❤️