Have you ever prayed to God and felt like you were speaking into a vacant room?
For me, it’s easy to start speaking empty words, forgetting that I’m in conversation with the living God of the universe. Sometimes I just feel alone, and I wonder if anyone’s listening. The worst part is, I don’t think this feeling is uncommon. The struggle we all face in prayer is perhaps why Paul urges us to pray—rather than merely suggests we do so (1 Timothy 2:1).
Prayer can seem like a one-sided conversation. So how do we gain the confidence that God is on the other side of the proverbial telephone? Jesus prayed to the Father constantly throughout His ministry. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed that the Father would take the cup of crucifixion from Him. Even then, with His glory so close at hand, I imagine He felt alone and abandoned. But the good news for Him and us is that Jesus was not alone—and He knew it! He understood that His Father was listening. We, too, can be sure our prayers are being heard, heeded, and acted upon.