I've prayed the same prayer for years. Nothing's changed.

Praying the same thing for years without change makes it feel like the words are going nowhere. James answers with Elijah, who sent a servant to check the sky seven separate times. Six of those trips came back with nothing. The cloud was not absent — it was not visible yet.

The conversation

The child: “Daddy God, I've prayed the same prayer for years. Nothing's changed.”

God: “I've heard every word. Not one has fallen to the ground unheard.”

The child: “What does Scripture say?”

God: “'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'”

God: “James points to Elijah. He prayed for rain and sent his servant to look.”

The child: “How many times did he look?”

God: “Seven. Six times: nothing. The seventh: a cloud the size of a hand.”

God: “What if you're on prayer number four? The cloud may already be forming.”

The child: “What if I'm praying for the wrong thing?”

God: “The prayer still does its work. Fervent prayer changes the one praying.”

God: “Hannah asked for a son. First came tears, and persistence.”

The child: “So I shouldn't stop?”

God: “Never. Not because I need reminding. Because you need connecting.”

The child: “Then I'll keep praying. Because You're listening.”

God: “Every single time.”

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16, KJV