Trenton Craven

Am I truly following God with my whole heart?

I am a freshman from Raleigh, NC, and have been attending St. Alban’s since my first week on campus, in August 2025. I am on the music team for our recharge! service and am involved in campus ministry.

“And now with all our heart we follow you; we fear you and seek your presence. Do not put us to shame… Deliver us in accordance with your marvelous works.” Prayer of Azariah, 17–18

Click here to read the appointed scripture for Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent.

Devotional

For context, Azariah says these words while standing in the middle of a fire. What strikes me is that he does not begin by asking to be rescued. Instead, he declares that he and his people will follow God with their whole hearts.

Often, when praying, we pray to get out of a situation. He seeks God’s presence more than immediate relief. This provoked the thought: God's presence in those dark moments is the rescuing, it is the light I'm hoping for. God puts us in situations he knows we can handle. His presence in those situations is enough to remind us that we are never alone, and that struggle and disparity only build stronger faith. With God, you shall never be broken. During the season of Lent, this speaks deeply to me spiritually. Lent calls us to return to God with our whole hearts and minds, not just when life feels comfortable, but especially when it feels uncertain, painful, and cold.

This passage makes me wonder whether I'm truly following God with my whole heart, or only when it benefits me. The challenge here is surrendering in totality. Azariah’s prayer shows that real faith means choosing God first and leaving the results in His hands. In my own life, this means seeking God daily, in stressful or confusing times as well as in times of abundant happiness. True peace comes from trusting God even when life is bad; that is real faith.