If you want to truly know the heart of a person, listen to them pray.  No I am not saying that you should eavesdrop on people or read their prayer journals.  What I am saying is that our heart becomes visible to the world when we pray because in prayer you have to open your heart and give it to God.  When we keep our heart closed in prayer we will not experience the greatness of God through answered prayer.  That is why keeping a prayer journal is so important.  You can journal what you are praying for and then write down how God has been answering your prayers.  You will be amazed at what you find.  This is one way we can be encouraged that God does indeed listen and goes with us in this life.

Another way we can be encouraged is by taking a glimpse of Jesus’ heart has he prays to God for his disciples (and us) in John 17.  Jesus doesn’t pray for God to take us out of the world (even though taking us out of the world would save us a lot of pain).  Jesus prays for God to protect us from the evil one.  Jesus prays that we would know the truth and proclaim that in this world.  Jesus prays that after he is gone from this world that we continue his ministry.  Jesus has made God’s name known to us and thus we are to do the same with others.  Jesus knows that without us, the Kingdom of God goes no where.  We have a special place in Jesus’ heart.  He does not want us to suffer but when we do we can take comfort in the fact that God will not let the evil one beat us down.  Jesus knows this world will hate us and will fight us with their dying breath.  Jesus knows that the life of a Christian will not be easy.  So Jesus opens his heart and makes his prayer know to God and us so we can be assured that God will give us everything we need. When we are called by God to share the Good News, nothing and I mean nothing will stop that from happening.  And guess what, you have been called.