December 9, 2025
Your Prayers Make a Difference
CAROLINE SHANKLE
Lee en español
“… the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” Romans 4:17 (ESV)
I’m just a few years removed from high school, so I remember the mean-girl dynamics, loneliness, insecurity, and all the other “fun” things teenage life can entail. Those years were not my favorite, but looking back, I appreciate the way my struggles helped shape me and grew my faith.
I’m also thankful for the work my parents did to guide me during those difficult times. If you’re a parent, in the hard moments, you probably wonder whether what you’re doing is working and whether your child is even listening to you. Even if they aren’t, I know God hears every prayer you pray for your kid.
I think about the story of Elijah praying for rain in 1 Kings 18. He was persistent in his prayers even when there was no tangible evidence of rain. He sent a servant out seven times before they finally spotted a cloud. Elijah’s circumstances didn’t change his perspective on God’s faithfulness. Because Elijah believed God’s promise to send rain, he didn’t give up.
Your struggle might not be a cloudless sky; it might be your daughter slamming her door or wanting to be dropped off a block away to appear “cooler.” It might be your child coming home from school in tears or spending another Friday night at home after being excluded from plans.
What if, after the sixth time seeing a cloudless sky, Elijah had given up hope? He didn’t know how close he was to his prayer being answered, yet he still prayed and held fast to his faith.
Through hard times, holding fast is what we’re called to do. We have to hold on to hope because at some point, the rain will come. In the case of parenting, this means trusting that God will use even the hardest things to produce tangible goodness in the life of your child.
As a young woman on the other side of the high school drama, I want to encourage you to keep praying. It won’t always be like this. It’s because of my mom’s faithfulness that I have the perspective I do now, and I’m thankful for how she pointed me back to Jesus.
Romans 4:17 says our God “gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” God has the power to create something in us that didn’t exist beforehand.
Where you see weakness, He sees strength.
Where you see fear, He sees courage.
Where you see brokenness, He sees healing.
Where you see nothing, He sees something in you and your child that He has planned from the beginning of time.
Keep praying those prayers. They will make all the difference.
Lord, give me strength when I feel weary, and give me hope when I feel discouraged. Help me to keep praying and trusting You, even when I don’t see the answers yet. Remind me that You are always at work in my child’s life and that nothing I entrust to You is ever wasted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
With a bold, candid voice from Caroline Shankle offering peer-to-peer advice, The Lion and the Bear devotional helps girls walk through the common stressors of teenage life and friendship while advocating for themselves in a Christ-honoring way. Grab yours today!
ENGAGE
Want to know more about Caroline? Visit CarolineShankle.com and get a glimpse into her world on social media @carolineshankle.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (NIV).
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (NLT).
How does spending time in God’s Word equip you to stay prayerful, especially in parenthood? Share with us in the comments!
© 2025 by Caroline Shankle. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
