Joy Bomb: A 8-Day Devotional by Tauren Wellsنموونە

Day 5

Hungry Prayers, Happy Hearts

Bedtime at our house is always a mix of fun and faith. Some nights it’s stories and songs, and if I’m in charge, there’s probably a dance party thrown in for good measure (whether my wife approves or not is another story). But no matter how the night plays out, we never skip prayer.

When our boys started praying, they’d begin every prayer with: “I hope…” And at first, I almost corrected them. But then I realized—maybe they had it more figured out than I did.

“I hope” is where hunger starts.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hope gives birth to faith—and faith gives legs to prayer. Hope imagines something better, faith believes it’s possible, and prayer says, “God, let it be done.”

Hope and faith together awaken a hunger for more of God. They stir something deep in our soul that says, “I need to talk to my Father. I need to be near Him. I need to be filled.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). That hunger? It doesn’t start with discipline—it starts with desire. With hope that there’s more. With faith that He’s near. With prayer that draws us close.

Let me put it like this: prayer curbs our spiritual appetite. It retrains our cravings. Because let’s be honest—we’ve all reached for something that doesn’t satisfy. Maybe it’s food. Maybe it’s scrolling. Maybe it’s another purchase, another post, another dopamine hit. But prayer? It resets the palate of the soul.

I love candy. Hot Tamales, sour Mike & Ikes, Almond Joys… don’t judge me. And after a few days of crushing sugar, my body crashes—but my cravings keep rising. That’s how spiritual appetite works too. The more you consume empty things, the emptier you feel. But the more time you spend in God’s presence, the more you want what truly satisfies.

Jesus said faith is like a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31–32). It starts small—but when planted, it grows into something strong and life-giving. Prayer is the same. It may feel simple or weak at first, but it grows your joy, strengthens your faith, and deepens your hunger for God.

Romans 4:18 says Abraham hoped against hope—and it was that kind of gritty, soul-deep hunger that positioned him for promise. And Psalm 126:5 reminds us, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.”

So what does this mean for us?

It means if you feel spiritually empty, don’t stuff yourself with substitutes.
It means if you’re longing for peace, stop chasing distractions.
It means that when hope rises, and faith follows—prayer becomes the natural response.
And when prayer becomes your rhythm, joy becomes your reality.

Prayer fuels hunger for God, and hunger for God leads to joy.

So keep hoping.
Keep believing.
Keep praying.
And watch how your appetite changes.
Because once you taste the presence of Jesus, nothing else will do.

Devotional Questions:

1. What have I been feeding my soul lately—things that satisfy, or things that leave me empty?

2. Do I see prayer as a last resort or a daily rhythm that shapes my desires?

3. What are the “sugar cravings” in my life that I need to replace with time in God’s presence?

4. How can I stir up my hunger for righteousness in a practical way this week?

5. Where is God inviting me to hope again, even if it feels hard or delayed?

At the end of the day, prayer isn’t just about asking—it’s about trusting. And when you truly believe that God hears you, loves you, and is working on your behalf, hope and joy are the natural responses. So keep praying, keep believing, and keep hoping. Because God is faithful, and joy is coming. 💛✨