He Hears You

Rachael Gourley
Aug 14
2 min read

Updated: Aug 16

August 14, 2026

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 36–38

Key Verse: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.” — Isaiah 38:5

Hope for Today

Sometimes we aren't asking God to fix everything.

Sometimes we just need to know He hears us.

In Isaiah 36–38, Hezekiah faced fear, uncertainty, and circumstances completely beyond his control. He took what was frightening him and “spread it out before the Lord” (Isaiah 37:14).

And then, in the middle of another painful season, God spoke these beautiful words:

“I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.”

A friend of mine recently lost her husband. While sitting on the beach, carrying a grief most of us can't begin to understand, she quietly asked God to show her that He heard her.

She asked Him to send her a large shell.

About thirty seconds later, there it was—a large, beautiful curly shell.

Except it was broken.

So she prayed again. God, could You send me one that isn't broken?

About ten seconds later, she looked down.

A perfect curly shell. 🐚

Did that shell take away her grief? No.

Did it answer all the questions about why this happened or make tomorrow easier? No.

But for one tiny moment on a beach, it was a reminder:

God sees her.God hears her.And God is with her.

Maybe that's what some of us need today too.

We keep waiting for God to change the entire situation when sometimes He's quietly reminding us of His presence inside the situation.

Isaiah 38:5 doesn't say, “I've immediately removed everything that hurts.”

It says:

“I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.”

There are prayers God answers with miracles.

There are prayers He answers differently than we hoped.

And there are moments when His answer seems simply to be:

“I'm here. I see you. Keep trusting Me.”

🌿 Take This With You

Whatever you're carrying today, spread it out before Him.

The fear.The grief.The uncertainty.The thing you desperately want Him to change.

And remember: God's silence is not proof of His absence.

You may not get a shell on the beach.

But you have something even more certain—His promise that He hears His children, sees their tears, and stays with them through the hard places.

🙏 Prayer

Jesus, sometimes I just need to know You hear me. Help me bring everything I'm carrying to You instead of trying to carry it alone. When I can't see what You're doing, remind me that You still see me. Thank You for hearing my prayers, seeing my tears, and giving little reminders of Your presence exactly when I need them. Help me trust You with what comes next. Amen.