Day 18: Laura Cunliffe
Mark 11:4 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
I turned forty this year. The world would say it is a milestone birthday- one to be celebrated for all one’s accomplishments. And we did! Together with family and close friends, I celebrated all the Lord has done and His myriads of answered prayers in my forty years of life. Specifically, I wanted to celebrate a few specific prayers He had answered over the past few years- since we move to my childhood home state of NJ. Almost six years ago, I prayed that the Lord would give us 3 things:
- A new adventure (specifically a job in Switzerland)
- A chance to move home (NJ- where I am from)
- Another baby
In God's faithfulness He answered each of those prayers above and beyond all that I could have imagined.
Our short season in Switzerland was redemptive and healing for our family. It provided an opportunity for time together during a very difficult time for the entire world. It was rewarding both professionally and personally and it also led us back “home”….my second prayer.
Not only did He send us home, but He gave us a beautiful community at Grace Chapel and an amazing school community for our boys. He also gave us a new home in which to bring our third answered prayer (Poppy), back to, after she was born!
And even still, looking back at 2025, I have felt frustrated by the Lord’s timing or lack thereof this year. I have been praying for several specific requests on a specific timeline. My timeline. These prayers have not been met... Yet!
2 Peter 3:8 says that “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”
And so as I wait, and as it feels like a thousand years in my waiting, I choose to entrust the unknown, unanswered prayers to the Lord- “for He makes everything beautiful in His time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) I thank Him that His ways are higher than our ways. I thank Him for all the “ebeneezer stones” (1 Samuel 7:12) in my forty years of life so far. And I thank Him that I can be confident that He hears my prayers asked according to His will, and He will answer. (1 John 5:14-15)
Prayer:
Lord, thank You that there is a time for everything. Thank You that You do not forget any of our requests, that You hold each tear in a bottle. Thank You that You work all things for the good of those who trust You. Thank You that in the waiting, You are preparing my heart to receive the good gifts You have in store for 2026. Thank You for Your faithfulness in my forty years of life so far and for Your faithfulness in bringing Your promises to pass. In Your precious name, amen.
I turned forty this year. The world would say it is a milestone birthday- one to be celebrated for all one’s accomplishments. And we did! Together with family and close friends, I celebrated all the Lord has done and His myriads of answered prayers in my forty years of life. Specifically, I wanted to celebrate a few specific prayers He had answered over the past few years- since we move to my childhood home state of NJ. Almost six years ago, I prayed that the Lord would give us 3 things:
- A new adventure (specifically a job in Switzerland)
- A chance to move home (NJ- where I am from)
- Another baby
In God's faithfulness He answered each of those prayers above and beyond all that I could have imagined.
Our short season in Switzerland was redemptive and healing for our family. It provided an opportunity for time together during a very difficult time for the entire world. It was rewarding both professionally and personally and it also led us back “home”….my second prayer.
Not only did He send us home, but He gave us a beautiful community at Grace Chapel and an amazing school community for our boys. He also gave us a new home in which to bring our third answered prayer (Poppy), back to, after she was born!
And even still, looking back at 2025, I have felt frustrated by the Lord’s timing or lack thereof this year. I have been praying for several specific requests on a specific timeline. My timeline. These prayers have not been met... Yet!
2 Peter 3:8 says that “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”
And so as I wait, and as it feels like a thousand years in my waiting, I choose to entrust the unknown, unanswered prayers to the Lord- “for He makes everything beautiful in His time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) I thank Him that His ways are higher than our ways. I thank Him for all the “ebeneezer stones” (1 Samuel 7:12) in my forty years of life so far. And I thank Him that I can be confident that He hears my prayers asked according to His will, and He will answer. (1 John 5:14-15)
Prayer:
Lord, thank You that there is a time for everything. Thank You that You do not forget any of our requests, that You hold each tear in a bottle. Thank You that You work all things for the good of those who trust You. Thank You that in the waiting, You are preparing my heart to receive the good gifts You have in store for 2026. Thank You for Your faithfulness in my forty years of life so far and for Your faithfulness in bringing Your promises to pass. In Your precious name, amen.
Posted in Boast in the Lord 2026
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