In this sermon, Pastor Dairry Walker delivers a passionate, personal message about the power of faith, prayer, and perseverance. Drawing from his own journey and ministry, he encourages listeners not to give up on God even when prayers seem unanswered or faith falters.

Read the summarized highlights of the sermon below, listen to the full sermon here, or watch it here.

Sermon Highlights

Faith Is Personal, Not Just Religious

Walker shares how he didn’t grow up actively involved in church, joking, “I had a slight drug problem — my mom would drag me to church.” But after a life-changing encounter with Jesus, he realized that Christianity is not just a religion but a relationship: “I just wrote her [his mom]. I was like, ‘Man, it's a person. It's not a religion.’” He compares meeting Jesus to meeting someone so amazing you want everyone else to know them too.

God Moves Through Miracles — Even in Prisons and Hospitals

Through stories of preaching in prisons and praying in hospitals, the pastor demonstrates how God uses miracles to reveal Himself. Walker shares a moment where he prayed for a man’s mother in prison and later learned she had been miraculously healed: “She said something hit her during worship … and the thing that the doctor said she had is gone.” These experiences reinvigorate the pastor’s faith and fuel his desire to share Jesus with others.

When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered, Keep Going

A central theme of the sermon is encouraging believers not to lose hope when their prayers aren't answered right away or at all. “We start praying that God would do it that way. And when it didn't happen that way … we say God has let us down.”

But Pastor Walker insists that even in delays, God is still working: “It is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God.”

Love Never Fails, Especially in Families

Walker shares a moving testimony of his daughter drifting into Eastern mysticism and rejecting prayer, once even slapping her mother’s hand away. But instead of cutting ties, he and his wife responded with love: “Love never fails. … God's love never fails because God loves them more than you do.”

Eventually, the daughter returned to prayer, reaching out to her mom in faith during a crisis with her injured dog. It was a breakthrough that came not from force but from consistent, unconditional love.

Don’t Give Up — Even After Years

The pastor reflects on his own salvation and the 23 years his mother spent praying for him. Her unwavering belief had a profound impact: “She said, ‘Tell him that you are already saved and you just don’t know it yet.’” This patient persistence ultimately led to the pastor’s transformation.

Faith Is Built Over Time, Not Just Through Instant Miracles

Pastor Walker cautions against expecting all miracles to be immediate. Citing the story of two women with cancer (one healed instantly, the other after five years), he emphasizes that timing doesn't determine the value of faith: “God is not in time, and He doesn't have to be on time. He is the resurrection.”

Final Charge: Keep Praying, Keep Believing

The sermon closes with a rallying cry to keep the fire of faith burning. Whether you're praying for a loved one, a breakthrough, or a healing, don’t stop. “Don't give up. Don't give up. … I'm trying to stir somebody up to fight that hard thing that you're fighting.”

Even if you’ve experienced a “faith failure,” he urges you to get back up and pray again, confident in God’s love and power to transform any situation.

This sermon is both testimony and invitation to believe again, pray again, and trust that God still works miracles.

Tune Into the Word With Word of Life Church

Word of Life Church is dedicated to making the world a better place by spreading the Word and love of God. Our mission is to create an authentic, welcoming worship community and to empower Christians to live a life of faith and service in the name of Jesus.

To that end, we have two convenient locations serving both north and south Wichita, and we also offer accessible church services to support you in your journey. If you’re unable to attend in-person church services, you can watch our livestream sermons or listen to our podcast sermons from the comfort of your home or preferred location. If English is not your primary language, you can take advantage of our weekly international and Spanish-language services.

Our church offerings include a variety of worship experiences, LifeGroups, youth programs, and service initiatives for individuals of all ages, all designed to offer community and opportunities to engage with God and enhance a mindset of gratitude. Contact us today to find out how we can serve you!