The God Who Fulfills Wishes

I’m currently in Romania, visiting at the kind invitation of my dear friends Hagop and Ica Kooyumjian, and enjoying the warm hospitality of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Romania, His Grace Bishop Datev Hagopian. Years ago, they funded the restoration of an Armenian monastery here, situated on a quiet hilltop in Suceava. It’s called Hagigadar, and it dates back to the 1500s.

The word Hagigadar means “the fulfillment of wishes” in Armenian. And that name speaks volumes about the nature of our God. He’s not a distant or passive observer in the sky. He is a God who listens, who remembers, and who responds when His children cry out. He’s a God who fulfills the longings of the heart.

People from around the world travel here, and when they arrive, they do something remarkable: they fall to their knees and circle the church three times—on their knees. It’s not tradition for tradition’s sake. It’s not spectacle. It’s surrender. It’s saying, “Lord, I can’t do this by myself. But I know You can.”

Friends, maybe today you’re facing something that feels too heavy to carry. A chronic illness, a broken relationship, a financial hardship, a burden on your heart you can’t seem to shake. Maybe you’ve been walking around your own “wall” for months, even years, and nothing seems to be changing.

But here’s what I’ve learned: every step of faith matters. Every prayer you pray, even the quiet ones through tears, is like a seed planted in God’s garden. And you may not see it growing right away, but that doesn’t mean it’s not taking root. God is working behind the scenes. He moves in His time, not ours—but He is always moving.

The pilgrims at Hagigadar don’t walk around the church on their knees, hoping something might happen. They walk in faith, believing something will happen. That’s the kind of faith God honors.

So wherever you are today, whether in the quiet corner of your home or in the hospital waiting room, know this: God sees you. He knows your heart. He knows the desires buried deep within—the ones you’ve told no one, the ones you can barely admit to yourself. And He is not just the God of heaven. He is the God who fulfills wishes.