Tonight, I sat down with my mom and dad to watch The Forge. As a Christian single mom raising boys, I didn't expect the movie to touch my heart as deeply as it did.
The story follows Isaiah, a young man struggling to find purpose, and his mother Cynthia, who refuses to stop praying for her son. What struck me most was not Isaiah's transformation, but the faithfulness of a mother who continued praying when she couldn't see what God was doing behind the scenes.
As single moms, we often carry burdens no one else sees. We pray over our children before they wake up. We pray while driving to work. We pray through tears when our children make mistakes. We pray when we feel alone.
Cynthia reminded me that God hears every prayer.
One of the most powerful quotes connected to The Forge is:
"Prayer is the steering wheel, not the spare tire."
How often do we only turn to prayer in emergencies? The movie challenged me to make prayer my first response, not my last resort.
The Bible tells us:
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much." — James 5:16 (NKJV)
As I watched Isaiah's life change, I was reminded that the cost of being a Christian is real. Following Christ means surrendering our own plans, forgiving people who hurt us, choosing obedience when it's difficult, and trusting God when we cannot see the outcome.
Jesus Himself said:
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." — Luke 9:23
Being a Christian isn't always easy. Sometimes it means standing alone. Sometimes it means waiting years for answered prayers. Sometimes it means continuing to believe when circumstances tell you to give up.
But the reward is seeing God work in ways we never could.
One message from The Forge that deeply encouraged me was the reminder that a praying mother can make an eternal difference in the life of her son. The filmmakers specifically highlighted how God can answer the prayers of single mothers by bringing godly mentors into a young man's life.
As I think about my own boys, I realize that my greatest gift to them is not money, a perfect home, or having all the answers.
My greatest gift is prayer.
Every day I pray:
- That they will love Jesus.
- That they will become godly men.
- That God will protect them from the enemy.
- That they will walk in truth.
-
That they will fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
As I watched The Forge, I was reminded that following Christ isn't just about praying for our children or trusting God with our future. It's also about surrendering our hurts to Him.
Some of us have experienced broken vows, broken promises, betrayal, lies, abandonment, and heartbreak. We know what it feels like when someone we trusted chooses a different path than the one they promised before God.
Yet Scripture reminds us:
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil... Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." — Romans 12:17,19
Forgiveness does not mean what happened was acceptable.
Forgiveness does not mean trust is automatically restored.
Forgiveness does not mean there are no consequences.
Forgiveness means releasing our right to revenge and placing the situation into God's hands. It means trusting God to be the Judge while we focus on healing and obedience.
The Lord sees every broken vow.
He sees every lie.
He sees every betrayal.
He sees every tear shed in private.
Nothing is hidden from Him.
As difficult as it can be, God calls us to forgive because He has forgiven us. When we choose forgiveness, we are not setting the other person free—we are freeing our own hearts from the prison of bitterness.
Today, I choose to trust that God is just. I choose to trust His timing. I choose to release what I cannot change and place it in His hands.
Because vengeance belongs to the Lord, not to me.
And while people may break their promises, God never breaks His.
"People may fail us, abandon us, lie to us, and break the vows they made before God—but the Lord remains faithful, and His promises never fail." ✝️💗
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end." — Lamentations 3:22
I may not always see what God is doing.
But The Forge reminded me that God is working even when I cannot see it.
So today, if you're a tired mom, a single mom, or a parent carrying a burden for your children, don't stop praying.
God hears every prayer.
God sees every tear.
And God is still in the business of changing hearts.
Prayer
Father, thank You for reminding me that You love my boys even more than I do. Help me to be faithful in prayer and trust You with what I cannot control. Raise my sons to become men who love You, honor You, and follow You all the days of their lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Signed with love,
Kerri Anderson ♥
Blessed Be the Gift