Ever feel like you’re just shouting into the void when you pray? You keep asking, keep knocking, but all you’re getting is… crickets. 🦗😬 Yeah, it’s frustrating. You’re definitely not the only one feeling that way.

In an episode of Father Simon Says, Fr. Richard Simon explores this whole messy, beautiful struggle of persevering in prayer.

📬 Listener’s Big Question

A listener writes in with a question we’ve all wrestled with: “How do I know if God’s answer is ‘no’ or just ‘wait’? Should I just give up on my prayer?”

Fr. Simon’s answer is solid, practical, and hits you right in the heart.

Why Keep Praying When It Feels Useless?

Fr. Simon explains that prayer isn’t about nagging God until He changes His mind. It’s about transforming our hearts. Prayer is like a filter, helping us sort through what we think we want and what we actually need.

It’s kinda like starting off praying, “Lord, please fix my lawn’s crabgrass 🌱” and then realizing a month later you’re really praying for peace, patience, and contentment instead. Funny how God works like that.

🙏 God’s Not Gonna Force It

Fr. Simon says that Godrespects our free will. Prayer is His way of inviting us to say, “Okay, God, I trust Your plan even if I don’t get it.”

💡 What Persistent Prayer Actually Does

When you stick with prayer, it’s like an exploration into your own heart. You start filtering out the shallow stuff and getting real about what you actually desire.

-Surface vs. Heartfelt Desires: You might start with the little stuff (looking at you, crabgrass 🌱), but as life throws heavier things your way, your prayers get real: health, love, faith, healing.

-Revealing True Values: If you give up on a prayer super easily, was it even that important to you? But if you can’t let it go, that desire is probably rooted deep in your soul.

🌟 The One Thing You Should Never Give Up On: Heaven

At the end of the day, Fr. Simon says the one thing you should never, ever stop praying for is heaven. Because that’s the ultimate goal, right? And every prayer we stick with, every moment of persistence, draws us closer to that eternal “yes.”

So, yeah, if you’re feeling discouraged because you haven’t gotten an answer, don’t give up. Keep praying. It’s not just about getting what you want; it’s about growing closer to God’s heart. That’s a win every time. 🙌💙

Thebest way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it outhere.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS