Tragedy hits like a runaway truck. It doesn't care about our plans, hopes, or dreams - it simply strikes without warning.
We are so unprepared for the unexpected loss, pain, grief. Suddenly we find ourselves thrust into a whirlwind of emotions, questions, and impossible decisions. It is here we need people who will come alongside - in person or in prayer.
When the phone call came at noon while I was working, my world shifted. In that moment between normalcy and devastating tragedy, I realized I needed prayer - not someday, but right now. Here I am, writing about it, and suddenly – I needed prayer. My recent loss drove me to reach out for prayer, and many of you responded - as I knew you would.
You can catch the thread of that request and the prayers here.
Right now is still hard, but I am so grateful for your covering and supporting! Really, I cannot thank you too many times. One thing I’ve realized: that we are a community - not close in proximity, but connected here, by the Lord. I am very encouraged by this and want to also encourage you.
Take a moment and realize something profound:
You are one who actually does the praying we talk about here. Even though nobody knows or notices, you execute plans to pray - perhaps by getting up before anyone else in the house to pray for them, or getting to the church an hour before the pastor to pray for the sermon and the service. You're the one whose neighbors wonder why you walk so slowly past the house with the 'For Sale' sign, not knowing you're lifting up their job loss in prayer. You're the one who pauses at the corner where the teenager was arrested, whispering a prayer for his mother's broken heart.
Pause a second, and consider the humble reality of what you do: the real work of actual praying - many times alone. You unlock the church fellowship hal at 6 AM, arrange six chairs in a circle, and wait. When 6:30 comes and you're still alone, you bow your head anyway - because Jesus promised to be present even when it's just you.
And the Lord sees you praying in secret.
Though no one else does, God sees, He hears.
God answers and He rewards.
Many Christians talk about praying and tell others they will pray for them—but seldom really do. It sounds good, right, to say they pray? But then doing the praying takes real work, time, struggle. Fervent praying, as James says. Epaphras knew this and so do you.
Recently I was encouraged along these lines, so let me pass along the exhortation to you - a reader who prays - to take a moment and feel good about what you are doing, and have been doing.
This is our pat-on-the-back for you, a thank-you, job well-done, and keep-up-the-good-work.
This reality should humble us and not puff us up with any spiritual pride; let it serve as a reminder from Whom the call to pray comes. He is the One who invites us to pray before His throne, and enables us to do so. The Lord Almighty is He who provides both the prayers and the answers.
You are a vessel of His choosing and His using. Primarily, in our case, in the ministry of prayer. Take some time realizing that and spend some time thanking Him for it. Let us encourage one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18), to keep faith and continue steadfastly in prayers.
I appreciate you—your prayers, your subscription, your reading this. So thank you and bless you. I pray for you all constantly, and so ask you to pray for me also.
Here's what I know for certain: You're on your knees changing eternity...the work of the Gospel of Christ advances because of faithful pray-ers like you. Your unseen, consistent prayer life is not just noticed by God - it's the engine that moves His kingdom forward.
So keep praying. Keep showing up. Keep believing that your prayers matter - because they really do, and so do you.
