929 Not Letting Go

How much longer will you ask and actually still believe it’s possible? How many more times will you hope God gives you a sign, after having received nothing? What do you do when the area you desperately need God to work in continues to go unchanged? Will you keep asking? Will you continue to hold on? Will you absolutely refuse to back down? Many years ago I read the story of a 4 year old little boy who died, went to Heaven, then returned to this life to give all the astounding details that perfectly aligned with scripture. Things this little boy couldn’t have possibly known if he hadn’t actually experienced heaven. The book later became a movie, “Heaven Is For Real.” Not included in the movie is my favorite part of the story. The little boy, while in Heaven with Jesus, is told that he’s being sent back to live because his Daddy was still relentlessly praying for him. His Dad would not quit bombarding the throne of God with his requests, so God decided to send his little boy back to him. The visual this story paints for me has been life changing. I now see God hearing my prayers and considering my requests. I can see him leaning in close as I ask again and again. And I can see him extending his hand, making the impossible possible, bending a few rules, rewriting the story, because I keep asking in faith. My sister, have you given up on believing God will respond to your request? Have you lost hope as you look at your reality in despair, facing another day where nothing has changed? Will you storm the gates of Heaven again … will you boldly approach the throne again … will you wrestle it out with God and ask again? Yes, again. Yes, here where odds tell you it’s not possible. Here where the optimal time has already passed. Here where common sense tells you this isn’t happening. Will you gather what faith you have left after weathering this storm for so long, and tell God you’re here asking again? I have a dear friend who is married to a wonderful man. Everything about their life was beautiful, except for his struggle with alcohol. And somehow alcohol took all that was beautiful and left nothing but a disaster. For over 20 years he had battled his addiction, and always lost. After a little progress, he always fell back into temptation and ended up worse. That is, until God touched him. One night he was sitting in front of the liquor store, preparing to buy his next bottle of poison, and he felt the hand of God touch his shoulder. With one touch, he was able to do what he had never done before, he turned the car around, drove home and stayed sober. It’s been nearly 5 years, and he’s been sober since. A man who had struggled with addiction for over 20 years was healed instantly and has never desired a drink again. How is this possible? A prayer that had been prayed hundreds of times in the past was prayed again. Once again, God was bombarded with the pleas of a desperate family, and he moved in response. Will you pray again? Will you boldly approach the throne of the Almighty and tell him you’re not giving up? Here you are again, holding on to his promises, believing in his power, and refusing to back down. God, we’re asking again! There’s a beautiful family in Indiana who have been touched by the unimaginable. A near fatal drowning accident has left their blonde haired, blue eyed little boy as a shell of the 2 year old he was before. I, along with nearly a half-million people, follow their journey on their Facebook page called Light for Levi. This family has FAITH. Bold, undeniable, solid faith. But it’s been nearly 9 months since the accident, and precious Levi is still suffering. With every faith-filled update posted, my heart just breaks a little more. Life goes on, but their boy’s progress does not, and they are growing weary. I must admit,