PRAYERS THAT LEAD TO BREAKTHROUGHS
How do we respond when we encounter a season of waiting, disappointments, setbacks, or fear? I grew up in church, learning that sometimes God says “yes” to our prayers, while at other times He says “no” or withholds the things we ask for. As someone prone to overthinking, my instinctive reaction is often to seek solutions first rather than to seek God. However, this year, He has gently guided me to stop relying on my understanding and instead to incline my ears toward Him.
Jesus has been teaching me to communicate with Him and surrender my worries through prayer. To be honest, it hasn’t been an easy journey. I can almost empathize with Hannah, a woman in the Bible who faced the heartbreak of barrenness for much of her life and endured torment from her own family. Hannah’s longing for a son deeply affected her physical and emotional well-being. In 1 Samuel 1:10-11, we read,
“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
In that moment, Hannah felt unseen and lost in the uncertainty of her life. Perhaps some of you are going through a similar season of drought, where you don’t sense God’s presence nearby or feel unsure about your future. I’m here to remind you that our God is El Roi—the God who sees. You are precious in His eyes, and He knows your needs intimately. Even when it’s hard to perceive, He is constantly at work behind the scenes, and His ways are far deeper and higher than ours.
From the years I’ve walked with Him, I’ve seen God as a loving Father and a faithful protector. Whenever He withholds an answer to my prayers, I’ve learned to trust that it’s because He is refining my character and preparing me for what lies ahead.
Church, He is the God of breakthrough, and I believe His timing is always perfect. When Hannah finished her prayer, verse 18 mentioned a shift in her perspective and that her “face was no longer downcast”. It’s amazing how God can uplift our souls and release hope whenever things aren’t going our way. It was just a matter of time for us to see God’s promise coming to pass.
It is evident that whenever we surrender our desires to the Lord, He surprises us with opened doors that surpass what we imagined or expected. In God’s sovereign way, Hannah bore a child to a faithful servant of God, Samuel, who later became the priest to anoint David as King over the Israelites. What a privilege to be a part of God’s Divine plan!
This past August, I had the privilege of joining the IFGF Seattle team and World Harvest on a mission trip to the Riau Islands. Our group came from various parts of the world—Seattle, Vancouver, Batam, Siak, Paris, and Jakarta—yet we quickly became a close-knit family, working together as one unified team.
For seven days, we provided medical services, organized and performed in Indonesian Independence Day concerts, and spent meaningful time with school-aged children and the surrounding community. Despite facing challenges such as high tides, exhaustion, and discomfort throughout the trip, we kept our smiles on and remained joyful. It was heartwarming to witness God’s love and presence being displayed through every good work we were privileged to be a part of.
I felt God’s hand and protection over us throughout the trip, especially because we dedicated our mornings at 6 AM to prayer, hearing God’s Word through devotions led by team members, and worshiping Jesus together as one body of Christ. I also believe this was the result of the numerous prayers lifted for us by others, both before and during the mission trip. Their intercession was a powerful support that carried us through.
I remember how we faced a major setback while we were in Pancuran. After completing our medical services and setting up for the concert that evening, a massive storm suddenly overtook the area. We found ourselves stuck in the church, waiting for the storm to pass. However, the storm showed no signs of letting up, with powerful gusts of wind making it nearly impossible for us to step outside the church where we were staying.
That night, we gathered as a team to seek discernment from God on whether we should proceed with the concert. Our ultimate desire was to see souls won to Christ, foster mutual respect among non-believers, and witness God’s glory manifest in that village. Lo and behold, after we prayed together, the storm gradually subsided, turning into a drizzle.
We made our way down to the venue, and it turned out to be an incredible event. It brought the community together, and we also had the opportunity to testify to the residents about Jesus. That night, we laid hands on the sick and witnessed Jesus miraculously heal them. Through our prayers, we saw non-Christians accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It was a powerful testament to His love and glory.
Maybe you’ve been praying for a family member to come to Christ, or perhaps you’ve been seeking God for a job opportunity. Maybe you’re waiting for residency, a spouse, or a child. Whatever your waiting season looks like, I encourage you to remain faithful in prayer. Trust that God is working in His perfect timing, even when the answers seem delayed.
I’ve witnessed my grandpa decide to receive Jesus after 32 years of our family faithfully committing to pray for him. This experience has taught me that as long as our intentions remain pure and our desires align with His will, God will show up in miraculous ways. All we need to do is draw closer to Him, trust His timing, and rely on His strength.
I pray that you will continue to trust Jesus through every circumstance, knowing He truly has your best interests at heart and a perfect plan for your life.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:31 KJV)
Source: Jennifer Wijaya (Global Women Coordinator)
