“I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.”
This little wall hanging, gifted by a dear friend, is a beautiful reminder to pause and be truly grateful for the blessings that fill my life. Blessings that were once whispered prayers, dreams that lay forgotten, and hopes that were stifled under various circumstances.
Yet I often find myself so focused on the next goal, the next thing to check off a long list, or the next new pursuit, that I forget to cherish and treasure what I already have.
There have been days I have prayed for peace when my heart was anxious and fearful. I have asked the Lord for strength when I felt I could not take another step forward. I have sought His direction when I didn’t know which way to go. I have wondered if the light would ever break through the darkness, if the waiting would ever end. I have cried out to Him for healing, grace, forgiveness, restoration, and provision.
Some prayers were answered quickly. Others took time—long, stretching seasons of waiting and wondering. There are many prayers that the Lord answered in ways different from my expectations. I still have a long list of requests I have placed before Him and am waiting for His intervention.
It is so easy to grow accustomed to today’s blessings and forget that they were once the very things I prayed for. When the novelty fades, and routine takes over, I’m dismayed to realise how quickly I tend to overlook the goodness that surrounds us, blessings we once longed for with all our hearts.
The reassuring love of family, friendships we can lean on, provision that meets our needs, fellowship that nurtures us, godly guidance at decisive crossroads, a roof over our heads, food on our table, restored relationships, peace in Christ, and the unshakable assurance of His love and mercy—these are all powerful reminders of God’s faithfulness.
The Bible reminds us in Psalm 103:2, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
My life is far from perfect. There are valleys I’m trudging through, mountains that loom ahead, uncertain paths that may lead elsewhere, unexpected hurdles and challenges that seem to spring out of nowhere, detours that leave me doubting, and prayers I’m still believing will be answered.
There are days when my faith dares me to believe for mountains to move, and other days when even a mustard seed of faith feels like all I can muster up. Yet when I look back, I am reminded that His faithfulness in the past gives me confidence to trust Him with my future.
And yet, in the middle of responsibilities and timelines, pouring into our families, building our careers, nurturing relationships, serving in our callings, and pursuing our purpose—we can so easily forget this simple truth: thus far, the Lord has led us.
In Deuteronomy 8:11-16, Moses admonishes the Israelites, reminding them not to fall into the trap of forgetting all that the Lord has done for them and to continue to depend on the Lord to sustain them.
Centuries later, that caution still rings true.
My prayer is that we pause often enough to remember, and be humble enough to give thanks—for every step, every season, and every grace that has brought us thus far. Every answered prayer is a testimony of His goodness. Every unanswered prayer is an invitation to continue to trust His wisdom.
May this reminder continue to resonate in our hearts. "I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now," and may I be bold enough to add, “and that gives me the faith to still trust Him."
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
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This was a truly inspiring read. Sometimes we don’t realize that the blessings we enjoy today began as prayers we once offered with hope. Thank you for this meaningful reminder to trust God's plan and remain grateful for His faithfulness. Wishing you continued blessings and encouragement.