Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, at the end of each year, we could trade in the unresolved challenges we faced—especially the ones at home—and receive a fresh set of problems that were much easier to handle?
Of course, that may fall into the category of, “Be careful what you wish for.”
Every family carries burdens. Some are brief, while others linger for years. Often, the most painful struggles are the ones that seem to have no end. They wear us down, drain our resolve, and tempt us to lose hope.
When that happens, it is easy to become emotionally exhausted and neglect one of the greatest resources God has given us: prayer. Martin Luther even called prayer one of the Christian’s greatest weapons.
Don’t let discouragement keep you from using it.
Here are three reminders—and three practical ideas—to help renew your prayers for your family this year.
Reminder #1: God Hears Your Prayers
One of the greatest encouragements to prayer is simply remembering who is listening.
God Himself commands us to pray, and He promises to hear us. Remembering this helps silence both our own doubts and the lies of the enemy that whisper our prayers don’t matter.
“But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.”
—Psalm 55:16–17
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”
—1 John 5:14
We are not speaking into empty space. We are praying to our heavenly Father, who hears every prayer offered in faith.
Reminder #2: Prayer Is Powerful
God not only hears our prayers—He works through them.
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
—James 5:16
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds…”
—2 Corinthians 10:4–5
Sometimes we mistake God’s answers.
When He says “no” or “not yet,” we may assume our prayers accomplished nothing. But God’s answers do not determine whether prayer is powerful. They reveal that God is accomplishing His perfect will, often in ways we cannot yet see.
That leads to a third reminder.
Reminder #3: God Is Good, Merciful, and Sovereign
One of the hardest lessons of prayer is learning to trust God’s wisdom when His answer differs from our request.
A dear friend of ours died from brain cancer after eighteen months of faithful prayer for healing.
God’s answer was “no.”
There were moments when I struggled even to pray, “Lord, Your will be done,” because I wanted only one outcome. Looking back, I realize those moments exposed how easily even good desires can become demands that my will be done instead of God’s.
Jesus Himself showed us a better way.
“Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
—Mark 14:36
Trusting God’s sovereign goodness allows us to pray with honesty while submitting to His perfect wisdom. That kind of prayer stretches our faith.
Months after our friend Nancie’s death, we began seeing glimpses of what God had been doing through His answer. Her illness and death became a powerful testimony, strengthening believers and reaching unbelievers—not only here, but in places as far away as South Africa and Korea.
One day we will fully understand how God used her life and death for His glory.
Until then, we rest in His wisdom.
When we submit to God’s “no” and “not yet,” we find the peace our souls need to continue praying faithfully.
Three Practical Ways to Pray More Intentionally
1. Help Your Children Learn to Pray Specifically
Have each child write two prayer requests on a 3×5 index card.
One request should focus on spiritual growth—for example, “to find my joy in God” or “to be more patient.”
The second can focus on a practical need, such as completing schoolwork faithfully or developing better habits.
Review these requests together throughout the year.
2. Invite Grandparents into the Ministry of Prayer
Consider writing a prayer letter to your parents that includes specific requests for each grandchild.
Grandparents are one of God’s wonderful gifts to families. Inviting them to pray intentionally gives them another meaningful way to invest spiritually in your children while creating opportunities for rich conversations throughout the year.
3. Pray with Your Spouse Every Day
One of the most valuable habits my wife and I have developed is praying together each morning for one or two of our children.
Not only does this place our children before the Lord regularly, but it also keeps our conversations about them intentional and spiritually focused.
Prayer strengthens both our parenting and our marriage.
Persistence Pays Off
Several years ago, a young man from a Christian family we know walked far from the Lord.
He pursued drugs, sexual immorality, crime, and at times even denied Christ.
His rebellion brought enormous heartache to his family. There were years filled with tears, disappointment, and moments when the situation seemed hopeless.
Yet his parents never stopped praying.
Neither did many families in our church and neighboring churches.
It is difficult to persevere in prayer when everything appears to be moving in the wrong direction—and doing so faster every day.
But God was still at work.
After many years, this young man reached a genuine turning point. The story is still unfolding, but there is real evidence of God’s grace transforming his life.
To God alone belongs the glory.
God used the faithful prayers of His people not only to draw this young man back to Himself but also to preserve a marriage and keep a family from falling apart.
I believe the full impact of those prayers—the ripple effects of God’s redeeming work—will not be fully known until heaven.
Keep Praying
Every family enters a new year carrying unfinished struggles from the last.
Take heart.
God hears your prayers.
Your prayers are powerful because God works through them.
And even when His answers come more slowly—or differently—than we hope, He is faithfully accomplishing His good purposes.
So don’t give up.
Keep praying.
The God who hears is the God who is at work.
