Have you ever prayed for something so deeply that it seemed to take over your whole heart—yet you wondered if God would ever answer? I know I have. For years, I prayed for my daughter, asking God to touch her heart and show her His love. I wanted so badly to control the situation—to make sure she wouldn’t miss what I believed was most important: experiencing Jesus for herself.
But life has a way of testing patience. There were times I felt frustrated, hurt, and even a little angry at the circumstances. I felt alone in my worry, though my wife was walking this journey with me, so I wasn’t completely alone. I worried about my daughter’s future—about her heart, about whether she would ever truly connect with God. And yet, even in the uncertainty, I kept praying, asking God to guide me and to work in ways I could not.
Slowly, I began to see small changes—moments when her heart seemed softer, a spark of curiosity or calm that I couldn’t force. I learned to step back, to let her feelings exist without trying to fix them and to trust God’s timing. Over months and years, I watched as God orchestrated something far more powerful than anything I could have planned. I realized that His love had been with me all along—guiding, sustaining, and quietly working behind the scenes.
James 1:17 came to mind: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” God’s timing, wisdom, and love are beyond anything we could control or predict. Psalm 84 echoed in my heart, reflecting the longing I felt and the joy that comes when God’s presence is revealed. I learned that when we truly surrender our desires to God, we don’t stop caring or praying—we gain trust, peace, and a deeper awareness of His love.
This Christmas, I hope you remember that God’s love is steadfast. He can work through imperfect circumstances, even when our hearts are anxious or our control feels impossible. We can pray, draw closer to Him, ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, and trust that He is at work in ways we cannot yet see. What is one area of your heart—or one situation in your life—that you can surrender to God’s perfect love this Advent?
God, in this season of Your love made known through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, help us never forget that You are good. Even when we cannot see or understand everything, You see and work all things for Your perfect purposes. Teach us to trust Your timing, rely on Your guidance through the Holy Spirit, and rest in the assurance of Your steadfast love.
