Do We Really Expect God to Answer Our Prayers?

Sharon JaynesA Sudden Glory, Expectant Living, Living Free, Living Fully 109 Comments

Have you ever prayed about something, but didn’t really expect God to answer…I mean really expect it? That happened to a bunch of Peter’s friends.

In the early years of the church, King Herod had many Christians murdered and many more put in prison. James, the brother of John, was put to death with the sword, and Peter was thrown into prison.

The night before Peter was to be taken to trial, a group gathered at Mary’s (John’s mother’s) house to pray for him. While they were praying, there was a knock at the door. A servant girl named Rhoda answered it.

“Who is there?” she asked.

“It is Peter,” the freed apostle answered.

She knew it was Peter—she recognized his voice! God had answered their prayers! Rhoda was so excited, she didn’t even let Peter in, but ran back to tell the group that he was standing at the door.

“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. “Maybe it is his angel.”

Peter kept knocking. Finally, they opened the door and were astonished to see Peter alive and well, standing right in front of them.

Why were they surprised? Why didn’t they believe Rhoda? While they were praying for Peter’s release, they didn’t really expect God to free him. Do you see it? We can pray about a situation and miss the glory moment standing at the door because of unbelief and low expectations that God would actually answer.

Sometimes, I fear we have lowered our spiritual expectations to match the experiences of people we know, rather than what we read in the Bible. We look around and see what has occurred in the lives of other believers, and that’s where we set the bar. As a result, we lead mediocre lives, forfeiting the abundant life Jesus came to give.

I love what David wrote: “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly,” (Psalm 5:3 NIV). Let’s do that.

Dear Lord, I am bringing my prayers before you today. Forgive me for praying and not expecting You to answer. Here is my prayer: (Fill in this spot with you own prayer.) I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Let’s pray for each other today. Share your prayer request in the comments and then pray for the name above yours.

My book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More, is all about raising your expectations to experience the full, abundant life that Jesus came to give. If you’ve settled for a ho-hum, so-so, Christian life, it is time to start enjoying the abundant life Jesus came to give. God wants you to experience His presence every day through moments of sudden glory where He makes His presence known. Ready to get started? Download a free

sample chapter or watch the videos on my website! It also includes a Bible Study guide for group studies!

And for you married gals, if apathy and indifference have crept into your marriage and you don’t know what to do about it, check out my book Lovestruck: Discovering God’s Design for Romance, Marriage, and Sexual Intimacy from the Song of Solomon and get out of that funk!

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Comments 109

  1. Kindly stand with me in prayer. I really need a financial breakthrough and complete my children’s school tution. Also I pray that my husband gets a permanent job. People have laughed at us suffering but I believe I’ll laugh last with God’s grace.

    1. Father In the Name of Jesus, I know you to be Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider. I thank you for your provisions; for Your Word says, You will supply all our needs according to your riches in glory. I stand in prayer with Olive and ask that you show yourself to be true to Word and bless her husband with gainful employment. All Glory to You God!!!!
      In Jesus Name
      Amen!

    2. Dear Sister in Christ,
      I personally know that God hears your prayers God will be there for you. Never doubt Jesus , just have to have patience and wait I’m not saying to pray for patience I am saying you have to have patience because God is always good he’s always on time and he will never for sake you.

    3. I’m believing j will laugh last with u! Please keep us informed of your answer to this prayer and know that I am praying and believing with you! God bless u and yours. Now and forever more!
      With Much Love

    4. FOR THE PERSON ABOVE ME OLIVE, OUR GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL OUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY, JEREMIAH 29:11, GOD WILL PROVIDE.

      NEICO, please pray that I will have the opportunity of being blessed with a new job. My job of 17 yrs will be ending and I pray that other doors to where God will bless me to work with good people in the right environment, time as a single mom. I ask for prayer for creating a new sauce that I would like to market but need a name and direction to go in. Trouble my peace of mind. Even the secrets of past hurt that can cripple a relationship but I want to be honest and truthful. Only God and see me through and that I can find peace in my mind. Please pray for my daughter Jourdon, that God will show her that she is a specially gifted child. She is struggling in school, ADH issues but I pray that he would touch her mind and spirit to judge her friends and to think first. May she be blessed with good teachers to help her this year. For my son Johnathan and his gifts and for him to grow with the Lord. May God show him the way to create his own business. In Jesus, name. Prayer for our country to be healed.

  2. Please pray for my Son in Law and wife they have three children pray for employment for him and good health financial breakthroughs we have all received Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour and my daughter serves in our local church. Any help will be appreciated. Yours in Christ
    Maggie Mofokeng. Michael Naomi
    Samuel Rachel and Samson Martin
    Thank you

  3. Prayer request for increase in faith.
    God’s plan for my family to be manifested and restoration of broken relationships.
    Pray for peace in the world

    1. Veronica, I pray for you and your family and for God to heal the broken relationships according to His will and in His timing. God is faithful. I too am praying for the restoration of broken relationships in my family. I is difficult to see our loved ones hurting, however, I know God is in control and will not leave or forsake us. Amen.

  4. I pray for my children to continue to grow in their very young faith, for healing of those suffering, and a special, unspoken personal request.

  5. Greetings Saints in the name of Jesus,

    I am believing for more security in my career and finances in Jesus’ name. 🙏

  6. Please pray for wisdom at the school I teach at. I teach 5,6,7,8 grade there is a lot to do. My first year to teach that many different grades.

  7. Praying that we are on 1 accord to purchase a home, conceiving a baby and that God helps me love and respect my husband in a way that brings softens his hearts towards God and his word. For my baby girl.

  8. Wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness.

    Please pray for the health of my family members and that my husband and son will gain employment soon.

  9. Please be in prayer for my daughter. She is slipping farther and farther away from God, is being unfaithful to her Christian husband, and is planning to leave him, destroying her marriage to a very good, faithful man of God and destroying her son’s family.

  10. We need prayers that I find a job soon. We have bills that are due and no way to pay them and do not even have money for fuel for our vehicles. I have been doing a horrible job at leaving it in Gods hands and I need prayer for strength as well to leave it in Gods hands.

    1. Came to my quiet time with God this morning wearing all my inadequacy like worn-out dirty clothes.
      Read and prayed, then this verse that I had skimmed over jumped out at me, from Colossians 4:12.
      “…asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God.”
      Knocked my socks off. That is my prayer request for myself and all of my family in Christ.
      Lynette, I am praying that Hod will meet all your needs out of His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!

    2. I pray that your financial situation will soon be resolved. Also I pray that God will strengthen your faith and give you peace.

    3. Please pray for God’s will in my current circumstances. I would like him to give me wisdom with what to say at the hearing & for the letter of reprimand I received to be rescinded, justice to be done & for God to be glorified. For peace in my work situation, all my children to walk with the Lord & healing in a relationship with a lived one A lot to ask, I know, but God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works within us. Thank you ♥️

    4. Dear God, thank you that you are preparing a path for Lynnette to find a job where she is blessed to be a blessing. Thank you that you will provide for her needs today. Fill her so full of your Holy Spirit that there is no room for fear or anxiety. If you have to, pull her concerns out of her hands and remind her that you’ve got it – that she is your princess – she is a daughter of the King!! Amen!

    5. Lord, I lift up Lynette to You & ask that You would open the doors that no one can shut and provide her with the perfect job for her family. I ask for Your peace that passes understanding to guard her heart & mind and that You’d flood her mind with encouragement & give her strength, joy & peace in the midst of her challenges. Your word says that you own a cattle on a thousand hills, please provide Lynette with enough to meet her family’s needs & give her all that she needs to be confident & secure in You knowing that You are her provider! In Jesus name amen

    6. I pray for peace and faith for Lynnette. The Lord is with you. I know it is easy to just say “trust in God”. That can be a very difficult thing to do when your circumstances are so real and alive. But God Is with you! He knows your situation and He will answer. Open our Bible and read. May He direct your thoughts and actions today. Fear not, He is with you.

    7. Lynnette, I will be lifting you and your family up in prayer for God’s provision. And I pray your faith will increase as you wait for God to do His work in your life. Your sister in Christ, Molly

  11. Came to my quiet time with God this morning wearing all my inadequacy like worn-out dirty clothes.
    Read and prayed, then this verse that I had skimmed over jumped out at me, from Colossians 4:12.
    “…asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God.”
    Knocked my socks off. That is my prayer request for myself and all of my family in Christ.

  12. Please pray for my granddaughter Francesca. Please God soften her heart towards her mother and help her to have more self confidence. Take away all the negative feelings and jealousy she has towards her sister. Dear God help her in the ways you know she needs. In Jesus name.

  13. My son has chosen to currently lead a homosexual lifestyle. I am praying for him to not just return to his faith walk but to have an even deeper relationship w/Christ and be able to use this struggle to minister to others.

  14. I asked God to remove an evil spirit from my grandson. He is on a drug to calm him. The Lord saved him and made him whole being born at 27 weeks. Prayers saved him. Please Lord take away the bad spirit in him now when he is 8

  15. Lord I lay before Your Throne of Grace my grandson Kyle . Father I pray in the Precious Holy Name of Jesus that you would wipe out the desire he has for drugs and fill him Lord with a never ending thirst for you, and Your Holy Word. Give him Lord the willingness to be taken back to the time in his life where he excepted you as his personal Lord and Savior. I Pray for the infilling of the Precious Holy Spirit to consume him from inside and on the outside, so that you Lord will be manifested in Him. I Praise You Lord and Thank you for answering my prayer, In YOUR HOLY NAME I pray.

  16. I lift up a prayer for all of those who have asked. Our God is so good, and gracious to us. He knows our needs before we ask. I am requesting healing prayer for a friend 2 year old daughter who broke her leg, Also I for my Broken left arm. I pray that the bones will align begin to knit together. In Jesus’s precious name I pray.

  17. I pray for my marriage… I pray against satans attacks against my marriage… I pray for others that have pain & suffering in their marriage…

  18. Oh Lord sometimes we are still waiting and praying while you already answer our prayer. Today I pray for my kids that you bless them in all areas of their lives. I pray that we can sell our house and move to a new place. In Jesus name.

  19. I have a delightful 22 year old son with special needs. He has caregivers and job coaches from 8-5 Monday – Friday. We need a caregiver/job coach for Wednesdays. Praying for someone exceptional whose desire is to find ways for him to grow in his independence – not just keep him safe.

  20. There are so many! My brother in law has cancer, his daughter has advanced lyme disease, my friend Bonnie is having back surgery tomorrow, our guest speaker for our retreat, 10 days from now, is on a type of chemo and has chest and sinus congestion, and more. Please stand with me for healing and peace in all these areas.

  21. I pray that Lynnette finds a job that she is going to be more than blessed with the job the Lord haves for you. That the Lord surprise you with more than you expect. The Lord never comes late he is always on time. So trust the Lord because he won’t leave you he is with you and is coming to rescue you. I pray that Jesus gives you the right job and that you can bless the people around you!

  22. i am praying for God to come through for me and my kids. i am divorced mum of two and currently had to move back in with my parents because i was now struggling to pay rent… its four years since my divorce and of late have been feeling very lonely.
    I need God to turn my life around.

  23. I am praying for a miraculous healing for my son’s chronic bladder problem and that he will know that it is only by God’s hand that he is healed.

  24. I pray for my family we are struggling financially.
    I also pray for my daughter who is in a verbally relationship, and needs to get out.

  25. I have an interview today for a promotion. I know God brought me to this place but I doubt my qualifications to
    Move ahead. Please pray that God will
    Guide the conversation today.

  26. I pray my adult stepson and his wife love me like they used to before they got too busy and I got older with health problems and can’t cook for them like I used to and I can’t do many of the fun things we used to do together.

  27. Please join me in agreeing for our youth pastors seven-year-old daughter. She had brain surgery yesterday to stop a brain bleed and today they are putting a VAD device into her heart and she is on a heart transplant list. She is already had multiple heart surgeries and brain surgeries. She will be going into surgery within the next hour or so. Please join me in believing for this sweet angel Tina Crosby for a miraculous healing in her body

    1. I am lifting up little Tina in prayer. May Gods angels be at her side and may God make a miracle in her body. In Jesus precious name 🙏🙏

      1. Thank you for praying. She has been through so much and yet she never complains and always has a smile and good attitude. God bless you.

  28. Please help me pray for my son (5.5 month old) that the Lord blesses him with health and also the vaccines do not cause any negative affect.

    1. Yaya, prayers for robust health for your precious little man! It’s a hard decision to make when negativity and confusion swirl around vaccines. Both of my children were born before most of the dangers were so highly publicized. My second child was very preemie and I experienced much angst about the shots for my already fragile baby girl. Glory to God, we never suffered adverse reactions to any vaccinations. Do your homework, lay it at the feet of God and fully trust in His guidance. Blessings to you, sweet Mommy! You are doing great!

  29. I will pray you find a job you like and pays well and God guides you through this difficult time. I pray God eases your worries and clearly shows you his path forward for you. In Jesus name 🙏 amen

  30. Please pray for my 43 year old son, Brian who has cancer. He and his wife have 3 children, with another on the way in May. Lots of financial and relationship problems in our family. We need some miracles. Please pray!

  31. Lately I’ve been in a bad place mentally and emotionally. I’m bitter and moody and resentful and I feel like I’m in a funk. My marriage is in a bad place and because of many hurts from my husband and other men from the past starting with my father I’ve grown cold towards them all. Because of having bc my body isn’t the same either and I can’t be the wife I’m called to be. I’m a mess!!! I need deliverance and a new attitude. I also am always fearful of things. The future. I’m a poor example of a Christian woman and my husband knows it. Thank you for your prayers

  32. I am asking the Lord to heal physical issues that I have been experiencing for some time…(digestive, neck pain). I know our God is completely capable of healing me but often don’t feel I deserve it when others are suffering great physical illnesses. May I begin to believe and trust Him for healing, in Jesus’ name.
    Praying for Tina that a miraculous healing will take place in her young body. May God bring wisdom to her medical team and peace and comfort to her family. Heavently father I ask in Your Holy Son’s name that You would bring strength, protection, healing and restoration to your sweet Tina.

    1. Praying for your physical healings and that your faith will move the obstacles. Jesus knows your heart and will answer and bless you on His perfect time. Also prayed for Tina too. God richly bless you with favor soon!

    2. Rose: your physical issues are important to you and we know that God knows our needs and wants and will make you feel better soon. I know there are others in need, too, but your problems are just as deserving of healing. As one of His children, you are important to Him.

    3. Lord I thank you for Rose! Heal this beautiful woman’s body from the top of her head to the soles of her feet inside and out. Show her her worth, value and how much you love her 💎. Lord I lift up Tina we are asking for a complete healing and we thank that you will do it. I declare God’s promises over Tina and break off any lies she or her family is believing. I cover all these people in the blood of Christ. May they rest in their Identity in Christ all the days of their life.

  33. My prayer request is the ability to get back to filling my dreams and expecting what I know God is already said He will do! And the confidence to walk in that truth!

  34. Lord thank You for this powerful msg today. You always make your way known to us. I ask for the Holy Spirit to guide every word I speak today. Especially to those whom I’m lead to pray for and minister to. Let me know that I know what I’m getting is from You Lord. Let me see Your will accomplished in my life. I also pray for my family’s salvation. I declare that as for me and my house we will serve the Lord! In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.

  35. I am asking God to bless me with a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby this year. Infertility isn’t fun but God sits on the throne!

  36. Please pray for our family specially for my husbands anger pride ego and not taking responsibility as the head of the family I’m really tired of my debts for feeding the family.

  37. Lord, I pray for this man I’ve met,(changing name) Kyle. Lord I would love to get to know him. I met him at work and he seems like a really nice guy. I just want to get to know him and see who he is and if he is a Christian. It’s kind a different with it being work. I just pray for Jesus to open the doors and let us just talk and get to know each other. I am laying all of this at Jesus feet, and wanting him to guide me and him. Please just pray. I want it to come from Jesus and not me. Jesus thank you so much for loving me and leading me to this man. I just want you Jesus to be in the middle of it all. thank you, in His name I pray this.

    1. Lord I pray for Rose. For healing to begin in her neck and digestive system. Lord, you can heal all our hurts and needs. I call on you now Lord to heal this pains and sickness. Please Lord, we want to serve you and be healthy and happy while we do this. Thank you for healing now, Lord you are the Great Physician and I know as we pray now, you are beginning a good work in Rose. Lord I pray for Tina. that she is healed and she begins to feel you working in her. Lord, Tina needs the Holy Spirit to reach down and touch her. strengthen, protect her and heal and restore her.Please Lord, help these two ladies heal and be able to go and do your work Lord. Bless them beyond all measures. Thank you for loving them and healing them. Amen

  38. I would like you to pray that God will make a way for my pastor friend, Roman, to be able to come to the US to live. He is from Yekaterinburg, Russia and has been trying through the immigration lottery since 2003 without success. I know that God hears our prayers and answers them. The immigration situation right now is very volatile and we need prayers in order for this to happen. We have been praying very hard for this. I have known Roman for over 10 years and I know him very well and know that he would be an asset to this country.

  39. I requesting prayer for healing and restoration in my marriage. I don’t have quite the same physical attraction towards my husband as I used to. I also feel I’ve been depressed for a while now, but have not sought help. Lastly, for God to work out my current situation at my job. Due to a site transfer, I’m away more often and further away from my family. Thank you for your prayers.

    I’m praying for Rose and asking the Lord to heal her from her physical ailments. Our God is the Great Physician. I pray the Lord touch her body and that she longer experience pain…In Jesus’ name

  40. I am praying for Rose that God will completely heal her digestive issues and back pain. I pray that He will lovingly show her that she does deserve His complete healing because she is a child of God.

    I pray for myself (Nikki) that God will bless me with the job that He has for me. SOON!
    In Jesus name Amen.

  41. I am asking the Lord to save my husband of 27 years. I’ve been waiting for 29 years and have given up hope. Now I usually just pray for other people., if I pray at all.

  42. My prayer is to MOVE in obedience to The Holy Spirit in the will of God. I ask for prayers to overcome controlling people, distractions and things that are not for me. Father I ask for a fresh anointing to break off the lies of the enemy and to walk in complete freedom. Lord give me the strength to be obedient to your will and move in my Identity in Christ. I ask for wisdom, boundaries and grace all the days of my life in Jesus name. Father I desire to know the depths of my worth, value and how much you love me 💗. Open my eyes and ears to your truths and give me the strength to be obedient. Thank you.

  43. Please pray for my Daughter Claudia . She is making poor life choices and she is a long way from Christ. She is also an absentee Mom. We are raising her 8 year old daughter.

  44. I pray that God would grab hold of my husband and remove the anger and bitterness which he has allowed to grow and root in his heart. We divorced in 2013 because of this. I thought he had changed and we remarried and now the anger and bitterness is spewing all over again. I have been praying for 31 years that God would do a mighty work in his heart and mind.
    I know the man he can be and so does God.

    Please pray God will grab hold of him and not let him go until he releases all this anger and bitterness.

  45. Please heal my husbands feet, legs, back. Please heal his broken heart 💔 from the sudden loss of his special girl. And I pray that my place of employment will find enough nursing staffing on weekends for care and safety. Amen

  46. I am praying for healing on my knees, my diabetes, the ringing in my left ear, clearing of the arteries in my brain and help on my finances. I am praying for the renewing of my faith and the return of my love for my Jesus as it was when I first excepted Him as my Lord. In Jesus’s precious name.

  47. I Pray for my children to bless every day in their lives, mentally, physically, financially and most of all find love and peace. As for me for my heart to heal and wait on the Lord to send me the right person to share the rest of my life with. I believe . Praise the Lord our God. Amen.

  48. Please pray for my housing situation. I am a single parent with a son and our current housing coming to an end. Not sure where to go or what to do. Need help with every decision feel totally overwhelmed.

  49. I am thanking God for the positive change he has brought to my sons life. I’m praying for healing in my digestive system that I can stop taking medications.

  50. I thank and acknowledge you Sharon Jaynes for bringing to light that we are never far from our prayer miracles.
    I ask for prayers for my entire family in dealing with sickness, health and wellbeing and financial difficulties. I thank you in Jesus Name. Stay blessed sister in Christ🙏

  51. I pray that God will deliver me or push me on a path to heal my depression and heal my wounds. I also would like people to keep my marriage in their prayers. Our tenth anniversary is this week and while the love is still there it has become blah.

    May Reana’s family be protected from all they are dealing with in Christs Name.

  52. I am asking for prayer to heal my body. I was diagnosed with Leukemia and have had a hydraulic of problems. God said if I have faith as small as a mustard seed I could move mountains, so I am asking and believing that I will be healed!! I know where 2 or more gather in prayer that it is powerful so please pray for healing, not only for me but other cancer patients as well. My bones and skin hurt so much but I am believing He will stop it. Thank you ladies and God Bless each of you.

  53. I pray that God will deliver me out of this marriage, restore my joy and peace of mind and happiness, I pray you provide for me and my children and blessed us and take care of us lord

  54. I pray that the distance I want to put between a friend and I is in God’s plan. That I have peace of mind that it is doesn’t make me a “bad” Christian because we are not friends anymore. And if he wants us to stay friends that he heals my heart and mind.
    Amen

  55. Thank you Sharon for this message. I have been meditating on thought of being expectant when I pray . I have never been a person satisfied with the status quo but I find that many Christians are led by our culture instead of trying to change our culture and direct it back toward God. This message of yours today confirmed to me that God has been dealing with me about expecting Him to work and to hear me when I call out to Him. Due to circumstances in my childhood I have a hard time with trust. I really don’t trust anyone fully and trusting God does not come easy for me, due to the fact that a lot of the men in my past neither earned or deserved my trust. Thank you again for this . I am trying so hard to learn to trust and this helped.

  56. Dear Jesus I lift up my son to you. You know his struggles and the demons he battles. Lord he says he no longer believes in you, but please turn his heart, mind and soul back too you. He accepted you and was baptized July 12, 1999 and then turned his back on you. Lord he is so lost please recapture his heart. Lord I pray that he can overcome the severe anxiety he struggles with and the depression, fear and lack of self worth. I love him Lord and it breaks my heart to see him have so much pain. In Jesus name I pray and wait expectantly.

  57. Dear gracious God. Thank you for blessing me with a wonderful family. I pray that my daughter’s knee is healing even after multiple surgeries instead of being faced with another surgery. I also pray for our estranged son of 2 years. I pray he is still going to church. Lord continue to help our family and I thank you for the day you are bringing healing to us. Amen 🙏🏻

  58. I am seeking prayers for my daughter that she will find the courage, strength and love of God to help her leave the relationship where she is abused. I pray she is protected physically and mentally when she leaves and after the relationship is over.

  59. God made sure I received this exact message this morning because he knew how much I needed to read it!

    This morning, I ask that you join me and say a prayer for someone very dear to me. She has been having some medical issues and also has a high white blood cell count. Her doctor has mentioned that her symptoms sound like those that are common with a diagnosis that terrifies us.
    Today, she starts the journey with many doctor visits to determine what the issue is. Please pray for her strength, healing, and that she receives good reports. ❤️

    1. Randi
      I join in prayer with you to lift up your dear friend who is suffering with medical problems. Praying for healing and that God’s perfect peace would surround your friend.
      I am asking prayer for my Son and Daughter in law. That God would lead them in a direction to receive a financial break through. That their hearts and minds would hear His voice.
      Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers, we wait with expectation.

  60. I’m praying for my daughter Bwalya Kapala to complete her studies successfully at the university of Leicester & to meet a man who will love her the way Christ loves the church

  61. I’m also praying for my son Chibula Kapala to be successful in his business in Jesus name in pray. I also bring my son Sipho before the Lord & pray for his breakthrough in his business – Thank you Lord Jesus for answering my prayers

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