Dennis Rainey: Have you ever had to face a "hopeless" situation?

Bob Lepine: Listen to the grief of this mother as she talks about her two sons.

Guest: Unfortunately, they're both now in prison. And even my mother has come to think, just forget about them. Don't talk about 'em any more. And they're my sons, and I can't do that.

Dennis Rainey: That IS a tough situation. C.T. Studd was a missionary in Africa. He faced a tough situation as well. His family had run out of food. They were facing starvation. They had a night of prayer, pleading for help. The next day they received a substantial check from a man they had never heard of. In the note he said simply that God had told him to send the money.

Does God always respond to our requests as dramatically as that? No. But what He does respond to is humility that expresses utter dependence on Him. I've observed one of God's most prized prayers is one that cries out to Him in total desperation.

One final thought. If you find yourself in a hopeless situation, express your needs to God in prayer. Confess your helplessness in dealing with them and your total trust in God's power to bring you help.

I'm Dennis Rainey, and that's Real Family Life.