Hi Juli,

Please counsel me on how to remain joyful in the midst of not having my greatest desire manifest? How do I remain focus on Jesus and never let the unfulfilled desire of my heart (it almost dominate my thoughts daily) take first place in me?

What is the simple but practical steps that I can take daily or momentarily to avoid falling away from God and people (who have what I want) all because my greatest desire is taking a long while and I feel disappointed.

Next, would you please also share with me or recommend me some readings on praying in the spirit please?

Thank you Juli.
Regards, Faith

---

Dear Faith,

Thank you for contacting me and trusting me with this hard question. Periods of waiting in difficult circumstances is where faith is tested and refined. It’s not just the ideas and doctrines of our faith that are challenged but the very core of our belief system. It is a process that has the power to defines us. What will we choose? Will we stand firm in faith or will we give in to disappointment and give up?

Like you, I too am in a hard period of waiting. I have waited and believed for children for over ten years. It is difficult, it is painful and like you said, sometimes the disappointment is overbearing especially when all around others have it. I went through a hard period about a month ago when I felt like giving up and giving in, my hope was gone and I didn’t know if I had the energy to care anymore. It was a low I had not experienced before. I came to a point that I had to start talking about it and what I found was an opportunity to speak faith, and as I did that, my heart heard what what I believe at my core and hope was restored.