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I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. -Isaiah 45:2 (NIV)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. -Mark 11:24 (NIV)

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. -Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)

Oh, how quickly we can forget His promises in discouragement. As soon as the waves go from rough to violent, we lose sight of the Lord and what He’s been telling us for hundreds of generations.

This happened to me the other day: I’d been praying and praying for a victorious outcome to a family matter, but hit a major snag in discussion of it. It was like the players weren’t even speaking the same language. (And yes, it did remind me of the Tower of Babel, building up in the wrong direction!)

After the discussion, I felt like everything was going wrong, like I was lost at sea. I was frustrated and angry that we’d arrived at such a disharmonious point. I actually felt we were doomed and trapped in a bad place.

So I had to stop and back up. I knew I was getting wrapped up in emotion. I looked up from the pit I’d dug for myself and looked skyward, and asked:

What is it you want me to learn from this, Lord?

God is so good and gracious. He didn’t have to answer me, but He did. He said:

If you truly believe, per My Word, that what you pray for will come to pass, then why get upset over what is happening right now? To not believe that I will deliver on I have promised is an affront to Me.

And he reminded me that every faithful, obedient step you take—even a rocky, painful one—moves you closer to answered prayers.

It’s not over. Far from it. The steps you’re on are getting you there. Never mind the rough places or seemingly impassable bronze doors. He will shatter things in your way. All you have to do is walk by faith and in obedience. And part of that walk is believing that, just as He promised, what you pray for will come to pass.