“I chose to believe ANYWAY and this is what happened. From the depth of my being I cried, “Lord, teach me to pray.” Our first born and only son was addicted to drugs. My husband and I were preparing for David’s college career and his three sisters adored their big brother.

Early one morning, my expectancy level was high as I sat at my kitchen table with Bible, paper and pen. I read, “ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Staring at that scripture I asked the Holy Spirit, “How do I draft a petition that I could present to my Father?” A petition? I had never heard of such a thing! A few hours later a neighbor knocked on my door with a petition to the governor of our state! I asked her about the fundamentals of writing a petition. I had my answer.

When she left, I hurried back to find out what God said about children. “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.” (Isaiah 54:13-14).

I replaced “And all your children shall be disciples” with “David is a disciple taught by the Lord.” Theology tried to tell me I was misusing this scripture, but I knew this was a word from the Spirit of God to me.

My Father revealed David’s true identity; he was a disciple! David’s behavior did not define him. When others complained about something he did or said, my standard answer was, “I understand why you are upset with him. That’s not who he is on the inside.” God had opened my blind eyes and I saw God’s creation and knew that he had a divine destiny, and I believed anyway.

My secret weapon became scriptural prayers. Through encouragement and discouragement, it was God’s Word that anchored me to Believe Anyway!”

(Today, David is the business manager and Vice President of Prayers That Avail Much. You can order a video of his testimony at www.prayers.org)

Germaine Copeland

New York Times Best Selling Author

Prayers That Avail Much

When Adrienne Cooley began writing Believe ANYWAY, no one knew the tumultuous

days we would face individually and as a nation. You will refer to this easy-to-read

book filled with scripture, encouraging testimonies and easy-to-follow activity pages

again and again. Your impossible situations will become possible, despair will turn

into joy when you choose to Believe ANYWAY! — Germaine Copeland | Author of

the Prayers That Avail Much Book Series