Then ask God for help. How do you do that? “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face . . . then I will hear from heaven” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

You’re not waiting on God. He’s always been waiting on you! Whatever you’ve wanted restored in your life, you need to be praying about it. Have you asked God for that kind of help? He is waiting to for you to ask. And he knows even better than you do what you need.

A lot of people know they should pray for healing in their mind or their body or their marriage. But they don’t know how to pray.

“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:23-24 NIV).

That verse tells you how to pray for healing:

Remember Jesus wants you to ask. God wants you to ask for anything in prayer because that’s the only way you’re going to learn how to trust him.

Ask in Jesus’ name. In other words, ask on the basis of what Jesus did on the cross. He paid for everything you need. There is power in Jesus’ name because it carries the full weight of God’s grace and redemptive love.

Keep on praying till God tells you to stop. Don’t pray one time and say, “Well, forget that.” Keep praying, believing God’s timing is perfect. God is responsible for the answer. You’re responsible to ask.

Joy does not come from getting what you ask God for. Joy comes in asking, believing, and thanking God, however he answers. Joy comes from trusting God to use your pain to make you more like him, knowing you will one day be fully restored with him in heaven.

Pray, remembering these three things. Even in your pain, God will give you more joy in the journey of following him than you could ever imagine!