Praying In Difficult Times

Friday February 13, 2026

God’s faithful love.  You might have read this as God’s steadfast love, or God’s mercy.  But it speaks to God’s long-suffering with us.  It conveys an enduring love for us, despite our failings and iniquity.  This does not mean, nor must we conclude, that God is accepting of our sin.  God is not confirming us in our sin.  God’s faithful love allows us to know that when we have sinned and fallen short, that we can go to Him and repent.  We can seek the Lord and know that He still loves us and is willing and able to forgive us.  This is important to know about God because it will help us when Satan tries to tell us there is no use in praying or repenting because of our sin.   Moses knew this about God and even reminded God about it in his praying for a rebellious people, Israel.  Moses pleads with God, “Please pardon the iniquity of the people in keeping with the greatness of your faithful love, just as you have forgiven them from Egypt until now” (Numbers 14:19).  Israel had continued to rebel against God many times in the wilderness.  This rebellion was often accompanied by complaints.  While they were complaining about their circumstances, what they were ultimately complaining about was God.  It showed a lack of faith.  And, here Moses is again making intercessory prayer for the people, and he is doing so based on the character of God, know that God is not like man.  God’s faithful love endures. 
The psalmist also knows this truth about God.  They appear to be in a season where it seems as if God is against them.  The psalmist says to God, “You have rejected and humiliated us; You do not march out with our armies” (Psalm 44:9).  What follows is a list of ways in which the people do not appear to be experiencing favor from God.  Then the psalmist says that it was not because of sin or faithlessness because in this season of their lives, they were being obedient to God (Psalm 44:17).  So, had God just gotten tired of them or moved on to something or someone else?  No, of course not.  How do we pray when we feel like God is no longer “blessing” us the way He once did?  We search ourselves and ask God to search our hearts as well to see if there be any wicked way in us.   But, we also pray, remembering God’s faithful love.  The psalmist prays to God, “Rise up! Help us!  Redeem us because of your faithful love” (Psalm 44:26).  Understanding Who God is and Who we are praying to is pivotal in praying during difficult times.