Convert, it's urgent! “I don't get tired as long as I have life, as long as Christ keeps me alive, I will shout, I will always shout: Brothers, please convert! Brothers, please convert, it's urgent! Don't waste time, it's urgent! Because many are waiting for great events little by little. No! The great events are going to happen in a short period, of days! All of them! And the Warning will come! [...] Let's trust in the word of Christ, and let's ask the Holy Spirit for discernment so as not to make wrong decisions" –Luz de Maria.

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If you want to avoid unnecessary suffering and carrying unnecessary burdens in your daily life, read everything without rushing; it’s worth it. You will need to remember these valuable tips for the present times and for the times ahead…

Introduction
An example
Testimony
1. First Sign: Deep Peace
Testimony
2. Second Sign: Providential Coincidences
Testimony
3. Third Sign: Impulse to pray more
Testimony
4. Fourth Sign: Spiritual growth
The spiritual principle
Testimony
Apply the benefits
A special promise
Testimony
A crucial warning
Final exhortation
One last word of encouragement

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«Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light» (Matthew 11:28-30).

Encouragement to read

Dear brothers and sisters, parents who want to protect your children; young people who want to make the right choices; all of you who want to persevere in doing good, to keep the faith in these dark times; you who want God’s help and comfort, to feel Him close to you in all the difficult and distressing situations of life, this reading could save your spiritual life and prevent you from abandoning prayer just when God is about to answer you with His graces.

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(Reading: 11 mins)

Introduction

St. Teresa of Avila, through her profound mystical experiences and her extraordinary knowledge of the life of prayer, identified four unmistakable signs that demonstrate with absolute certainty that God is listening to your prayers, even when you feel nothing, even when it seems that Heaven is made of bronze, even when the answer is slow in coming and the temptation to give up becomes almost unbearable.

What you will learn as you read, are not generic consolations or vague encouragements, but objective spiritual criteria revealed to Saint Teresa through direct visions of how God works in the soul, confirmed by centuries of experience in spiritual direction, documented in the lives of the saints who persevered in prayer precisely because they recognized these hidden signs and witnessed by countless souls who were on the verge of abandoning prayer but who, recognizing these signs, persevered until they received extraordinary miracles.

St. Teresa discovered something that most Christians are completely unaware of: God always answers authentic prayers, always, without exception. But His answer does not always come in the way we expect, in the time we desire, in the form we immediately recognize. And this creates the devastating illusion that God is not listening, that our prayers fall on deaf ears, that we are abandoned.

An example

Imagine planting a seed in the ground: After a week, you look and see nothing. After two weeks, still nothing. After three weeks, no sign of life. You conclude that the seed is dead, that the soil is barren, that your effort has been in vain, but beneath the invisible surface, that seed is already germinating, roots are growing, life is preparing to burst forth.

Your inability to see does not mean that nothing is happening, but here is the truth that very few understand:

Most prayers do not receive an immediate visible answer, not because God is not listening, but because God is working deep down, preparing better solutions than we can imagine, removing invisible obstacles, changing hidden circumstances, transforming hardened hearts.

And as this invisible work proceeds, there are four specific signs that indicate with certainty that God is at work, that He is working even in the apparent silence.

How can you recognize them in your daily life?

What should you do when you identify them?

These signs could completely change your perspective on prayer, but it is absolutely important that you do not abandon prayer even when it is difficult, so say with faith:

“I will persevere in prayer to show that I have the courage to continue praying even when I feel nothing, trusting that God is working for me in the unseen.”

Testimony

It was 1562, and one of St. Teresa of Avila’s most devoted sisters, Sister Beatrice, had fallen into a devastating spiritual crisis. For months she had prayed intensely for the conversion of her brother, who was living in grave sin, but she saw no change; on the contrary, the situation was getting worse. Sister Beatrice began to doubt:

«Perhaps God is not listening to my prayers, perhaps I am too sinful for God to hear me. Perhaps it is useless to pray…».

Sister Beatrice was about to give up prayer completely, discouraged and embittered, but before giving up, she went to Saint Teresa for spiritual advice. Saint Teresa listened attentively to Beatrice’s story, then with her gift of spiritual discernment said something that changed everything:

«My daughter, you think that God is not listening because you see no outward changes, but you are deeply mistaken. God is listening, He is working intensely, and there are clear signs that prove it if only you know where to look».

Beatrice asked in confusion:

«What signs, Mother? I don’t see anything».

And Saint Teresa, with maternal patience, began to explain the four invisible but objective signs that prove that God is listening and working. She taught Sister Beatrice to recognize these signs in her own life and in her brother’s situation. Sister Beatrice, enlightened by this new perspective, began to pray again with renewed hope and continued for months, gradually recognizing each of the four signs that Saint Teresa had taught her. And the miracle came. Her brother, inexplicably, suddenly had a radical conversion. He returned to church, confessed, and completely changed his life. When Beatrice thanked Saint Teresa with tears of joy, the Saint said:

«You see, my daughter, God was working all along. You didn’t see it because you were looking in the wrong place, but the signs were always there; they are there when we pray with authentic faith».

From that moment on, Saint Teresa taught these four signs to all her sisters and to anyone who asked her for advice on prayer.

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1. First Sign: Deep Peace

According to Saint Teresa, the unmistakable First Sign that God is listening to your prayer, even if you feel nothing, is that you have deep peace, even though your external circumstances have not changed. Saint Teresa explained:

«When God hears a prayer and is working to answer it, the first thing he gives is inner peace, not the superficial peace that comes from favorable circumstances, but deep, supernatural peace that remains solid even when objectively everything is going wrong».

This peace is God’s signature, a guarantee that he is in control of the situation. The biblical foundation is solid.

St. Paul writes: «The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus».

Jesus promised: «I leave you peace, I give you My peace, not as the world gives it, I give it to you».

This divine peace is a gift that always accompanies listening to God.

But how can we distinguish divine peace from simple resignation or indifference?

Divine peace has these characteristics.

4 Specific criteria:

1. It remains constant even when you should rationally be anxious.
2. It coexists with practical concern, but without paralyzing anguish.
3. It allows you to sleep peacefully despite your problems.
4. It generates an inexplicable confidence that everything will be fine, not depending on external changes, but on inner certainty.

If, while praying for a difficult situation, you feel this peace growing in your heart, even if the situation has not yet changed objectively, this is a very powerful sign that God has heard you and is working. Peace is a foretaste of the answer.

Testimony

A woman in financial distress: «I had been praying for a year about devastating financial problems. I was about to lose my house. Objectively, everything was getting worse, but strangely, as I continued to pray, I felt peace growing in my heart. I couldn’t explain it rationally; I should have been terrified, but instead I was calm. Friends said, ‘How can you be so calm?’ Two weeks before the eviction, a completely unexpected, miraculous solution arrived. Looking back, I understood that peace was God telling me, “I am working, trust me”».

But St. Teresa warned:

«If you do not have this peace, first check whether you are praying correctly, whether you are in mortal sin, whether you are praying with presumption, whether you are asking for things contrary to God’s will. Peace will not come because God cannot answer prayers that are not aligned with the good of your soul».

But if your prayer is right and you feel growing peace, continue with confidence. God is working.

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2. Second Sign: Providential Coincidences

The Second Sign that God is listening to your prayer for Saint Teresa is that small providential coincidences begin to occur, seemingly insignificant, but if you pay attention, they form a pattern. This is a sign that many do not recognize because they seek spectacular miracles and ignore small divine interventions.

St. Teresa explained:

«God rarely works with thunderbolts and earthquakes; more often He works through small providences, inexplicable coincidences, chance encounters, unexpected opportunities. When you pray for something and begin to notice that small things are mysteriously falling into place, this is God working in the hidden fabric of reality, preparing the big answer.”

Examples in Scripture abound.

• Esther happened to be in the right place at the right time to save her people.
• Ruth happened to meet Boaz.
• Joseph happened to interpret dreams that led him to save Egypt.

What seems like chance is Divine Providence at work.

How do you recognize these providential coincidences?

They have specific characteristics, perfect timing, inexplicable by pure probability. They bring exactly what you needed at that moment, they mysteriously connect to your specific prayer, they leave a sense of wonder and gratitude, they accumulate over time instead of being isolated events.

Testimony

An unemployed man: «I was praying to find a job after two years of unemployment. There was no immediate answer, but I began to notice small strange things. An old college friend I hadn’t seen in 20 years randomly wrote to me on social media. While talking, he casually mentioned that his company was looking for someone with my skills. The interview was randomly scheduled for the perfect day and time. The boss who interviewed me happened to know my father and respected him. I got the job. Looking back, nothing was really random. It was God orchestrating every detail in response to my prayers».

But St. Teresa warned:

«Don’t become superstitious, seeing divine intervention in every little thing. Use discernment. But when you pray intensely and begin to notice synchronicities accumulating, recognize the hand of God and give thanks for every small step toward the complete answer».

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3. Third Sign: Impulse to pray more

The Third Sign that God is listening to your prayer, according to St. Teresa, is that you feel a growing desire to pray more instead of becoming discouraged. This is paradoxical, but very powerful. When God is at work, even if you don’t see results, instead of becoming discouraged and praying less, you feel a mysterious impulse to pray even more. St. Teresa explained:

«When God hears a prayer, He draws the soul deeper and deeper into the prayer itself. It is as if God were saying: “Come closer, pray more intensely, because I am preparing something great and I need your continued cooperation”».

If you feel this growing urge to pray, it is a sure sign that God is at work. The spiritual foundation, true prayer, is not only that we speak to God, but that God draws the soul to himself. When God wants to give us something great, he increases our desire to pray because he knows that grace flows through the channel of faithful prayer. If the desire grows instead of diminishing despite the apparent silence, it is God who is preparing you for the answer.

How can we distinguish this authentic desire from stubborn obstinacy or anxious compulsion?

St. Teresa invited us to observe these criteria:

«Authentic desire is accompanied by peace, not anxiety. It makes you pray with joy, not with burden. It is constant, not intermittent. It makes you pray for the Glory of God, not just to get what you want. It makes you more humble, not more presumptuous».

Conversely, if you pray for something and over time your desire to pray diminishes, if you find more and more excuses not to pray, if prayer becomes an unbearable burden, this may be a sign that that specific prayer is not God’s will or that you are praying with the wrong attitude.

Testimony

A married woman: «I prayed for the conversion of my husband, who was far from the faith. Months passed without visible results, but strangely, instead of becoming discouraged, I felt a growing desire to pray for him. I would wake up at night with an urge to pray. During the day, I thought about him constantly and prayed. I continued for two years. The desire never diminished. Then, suddenly, inexplicably, my husband had a profound spiritual experience and returned completely to God. It was as if God had fueled that desire to pray because He knew that conversion would take a long time and He didn’t want me to give up».

But St. Teresa warned:

«If you feel this growing desire, go along with it, don’t resist it with rationalizations. Don’t say, ‘It’s useless to pray anymore, God isn’t answering anyway.’ . That is the enemy trying to make you give up just when God is about to answer. When the desire to pray grows mysteriously, it is God who is guiding you. Follow that desire faithfully».

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4. Fourth Sign: Spiritual growth

The Fourth Sign that God is listening to your prayer for St. Teresa is that you are experiencing personal spiritual growth, even if the situation you are praying for has not yet changed. This is perhaps the deepest and most important sign of all.

St. Teresa explained:

«God often delays answering our prayers, not because He does not want to grant them, but because He wants to prepare us first. He wants us to grow spiritually until we are ready to receive what we ask for».

When you notice that while you are praying for something, you are becoming a better person, more patient, more trusting, more charitable, this is a sure sign that God is working first in you, then in the situation.

The spiritual principle

God is more interested in your sanctification than in your comfort. He wants to give you not only what you ask for, but also a way to sanctify you. Often this requires you to change before the situation changes. Prayer transforms you, and that transformation is an essential part of the answer.

How do you recognize this spiritual growth?

Concrete manifestations: You become more patient with difficult people. Situations that used to make you angry are now handled calmly. You trust in God even when you cannot see a rational solution. You are more generous, more compassionate, more attentive to the needs of others.

Prayer itself becomes deeper, more authentic. You feel an inner transformation that you cannot explain. If you have been praying for something for a long time and you do not see any outward changes, but you notice profound inner changes in yourself, do not be discouraged. God is working, changing you first, because you know that when the answer comes, you will be ready to receive it in a holy way.

Testimony

A young man who wanted to get married: «I prayed for three years to find a girlfriend, to get married. Nothing happened, but during those three years God worked deeply in me. I became more mature, more responsible, more capable of loving truly instead of selfishly. At the end of the third year, I met the woman who is now my wife. If I had met her three years earlier, I would not have been ready. I would have ruined everything with my immaturity. God delayed the answer to prepare me».

The spiritual growth during those three years was the most important answer to the prayer itself. But St. Teresa warned:

«Do not confuse authentic spiritual growth with simple fatalistic resignation. True growth is active, dynamic, and produces visible fruits. If after years of prayer you are simply more bitter, more cynical, more closed, this is not growth, but regression. It means that you are praying badly or that you need to change something».

Apply the benefits

Saint Teresa also taught what to do when you recognize these four signs in your life.

• First: Thank God immediately for the fact that He is working. Gratitude anticipates the complete answer.
• Second: Continue to pray with renewed perseverance. Never give up when you see the signs.
• Third: Share these signs with others who pray with you. Sharing strengthens community faith.
• Fourth: Document the signs. If you can, write them down when you notice them. Over time, you will see clear patterns that will strengthen your faith.
• Fifth: Intensify your prayer instead of relaxing. When you see signs that God is working, it is time to pray even more, not less.
• Sixth: Remain open that the answer may come in a different form than you imagine. God always answers, but not always as we expect.

St. Teresa promised:

«Whoever recognizes these four signs and perseveres faithfully in prayer will always receive an answer: perhaps not immediately, perhaps not exactly as requested, but always according to the perfect Will of God, who knows better than we do what we truly need».

A special promise

There is also a special promise for those who pray with particular perseverance.

St. Teresa taught that certain prayers require what she called “spiritual siege”. Like an army that besieges a city and does not retreat until it conquers, so certain graces require persistent prayer that never gives up. Jesus himself taught parables about this: the importunate widow who obtained justice through sheer perseverance, the friend who knocks at midnight until the other opens the door. These parables do not mean that God is reluctant. They mean that perseverance in prayer transforms us and prepares us to receive grace.

Testimony

A family prayed for healing: «We prayed for seven years for our daughter to be healed of a rare disease. Seven years. There were times when we wanted to give up, but we continued to notice the four signs. We had inexplicable peace. Small providences continued. The desire to pray never diminished. We were growing spiritually as a family. We continued to pray faithfully. In the eighth year, healing came suddenly, miraculously, inexplicably. The doctors called it spontaneous remission. We know that it was God who answered after preparing us through those eight years of persevering prayer».

A crucial warning

St. Teresa also gave a crucial final warning: “Not all of God’s silences are the same”.

There is silence that means, “I am working, but what you are asking is not for your good; I am leading you elsewhere.”

How can we tell the difference?

If you see the four signs we discussed, it is the first kind of silence. God is working; keep going. But if you see none of these signs, if you feel growing bitterness, if prayer becomes impossible, if your spiritual life regresses, then perhaps it is time to reexamine what you are praying for. Perhaps God is leading you to pray for something else. In that case, pray:

“Lord, if what I am asking is not Your Will, change my heart, teach me to want what You want. Give me the grace to surrender to Your perfect Will.”

This prayer of surrender is sometimes the greatest answer we can receive.

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Final exhortation

If you have been praying for something for a long time and it seems that God is not listening, before giving up, check for the four signs:

1. You have deep peace, despite everything.
2. Small providences begin to happen.
3. Your desire to pray is growing.
4. You are growing spiritually.

If you have one or more of these signs, God is listening, He is working. Continue faithfully. Never abandon prayer based on appearances. Appearances are deceiving. The invisible spiritual world is primary reality. If the signs are there, God is working, even if you don’t see anything yet. Like a seed underground that sprouts invisibly, God is preparing a miracle that will explode at the right moment. Do this today. Reexamine the situation you are praying for. Look for the four signs. If you find them, thank God who is at work. If you don’t find them, reexamine the prayer itself. Perhaps you need to pray differently or for something different.

Always remember: God always hears authentic prayers, always. Even when it seems silent, He is at work. Trust, persevere, the answer will come. May the Lord strengthen your faith, increase your perseverance, give you eyes to see the hidden signs, and may the answer to your prayers come abundantly and gloriously. Pray without ceasing.

One last word of encouragement

For any difficult, tragic, or seemingly “impossible” situation, in addition to the situation itself, always ask for an additional grace (possibly in a state of grace) that the Lord never refuses and that death cannot destroy: the eternal salvation of your loved ones, near and far, good and bad. Keep them safe for eternity even if their temporal life on earth is troubled.

To be sure of being heard, even if you ask for this grace only once for a person, ask for it through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of all Graces to whom the Lord denies nothing by simply saying:

“Lord Jesus, whatever happens in the life of (name, son/daughter, loved one, etc.), I pray you grant the salvation of his/her/their soul. I ask this through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Mother. Jesus, I trust in you, I hope in you. Amen.”

Entrust yourselves and your loved ones with faith, hope, and charity to the protection of Mary Most Holy, St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family, St. Michael the Archangel and his Legions, and your/their Guardian Angels.

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Share with your loved ones, friends, and acquaintances who are struggling, weighed down by pessimism and discouragement, this spiritual help that the Lord gives us through St. Teresa of Avila. Go in peace, carrying this powerful truth in your heart.

Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us