Holding on to a Promise

By: Wendy Sanders

Friday, November 21, 2025

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7

Have you ever had a private prayer between you and the Lord? A prayer you confidently clung to, knowing it would be fulfilled because God placed it there. I have! I think Joseph had a prayer like that, and it's likely he prayed it for 20 years when he was separated from his family.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We don’t really know what Joseph prayed about, but his actions suggest he prayed without ceasing and gave thanks in all circumstances, regardless of how hard things were. No matter what happened, Joseph stayed faithful to the promises God had placed in his heart. It's easy to find encouragement in Joseph's story because we know how it ends... But Joseph didn’t! He just trusted God and lived his life day by day.

God is in the "business" of blessing His children. Sometimes, it may seem like our prayers are going unanswered, but God's timing is always perfect. His ways are higher than ours, and His purposes are far beyond what we are able to understand. When Joseph finally saw his brothers again, he was overwhelmed with emotion. That reunion also prompted him to remember his two dreams and God's promises from his boyhood (Genesis 37:5-11).

Amazingly, the prayer I've clung to for years was answered just a few days ago! Like Joseph, I was so overwhelmed I wept. My prayer was answered in such a supernatural way, only God could have orchestrated it! I'm still shocked, and I'm overcome by God's goodness. My answered prayer reminds me of the verses that say God wants to lavish His children with tender love.

Are you holding on to a prayer today? Have you prayed it for years, but it seemed like nothing was happening? I'm praying that God will answer it soon. But I also pray that as you wait, you will hold on to the promise God placed in your heart. If you get discouraged, reflect on Joseph's story and how it ended. Don't give up, trust God and His perfect timing!