“Will you pray for my needs? It seems like God isn’t listening to me.”
Have you ever heard someone ask you a question like that? I always get a flood of conflicting emotions when I’m asked to pray for someone who thinks their own prayers are ineffective. I’ve wanted to say “Of course God hears you! He always hears the prayers of his children.”
But if I think back to some hard times in my own life, I gain some perspective. Difficult situations have a way of grinding down even the strongest of faiths. Any parent who has tried to pray their way through a child’s surgery knows that feeling of insecurity. When my daughter had her eye surgeries, I asked everyone I knew to pray for her. I absolutely believe in the power of intercessory prayer. But I also wanted to be sure God heard me.
A uniquely human trait is the experience of great faith in one moment, and great doubt in the next. God knows all about it. He made us, and knows we need help. That’s why we have the gift of each other; to encourage and uncover our faith when strength wavers.
Consider the plight of our biblical friend, Job. Not only was he devastated by loss, he was further afflicted by his well meaning friends. When his buddies heard of his problems, they traveled to be with him in his crushing sorrow. When Job finally gives voice to his disappointment and depression, he gets quite a surprise. Instead of support, Job hears a litany of correction.
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? Job 4:4-6
So…that’s super helpful. Thanks Eliphaz.
He’s blaming Job for his lack of faith. But Job had great faith! It was just hidden in the desolation of losing his entire family, property and livestock.
When I was stressed about my eight year old going under general anesthesia and having a (very competent) doctor operate on her eyes, I never lost faith in God. I just didn’t think that my feeble prayers would be enough. Honestly, the stress was blocking my ability to pray too.
I sure didn’t need someone to tell me “Don’t worry, God hears your prayers.” I needed someone to hug me, tell me it was going to be okay and promise to pray. I was looking for Christ in an earthen vessel.
The challenge for me now is to recognize myself in anyone who is asking for prayer. To understand what stress does to our hears and souls. This point in time is not a reflection of someone’s faith. It’s a cry for compassion.
Those who hear that cry are challenged to respond in love. A hug. Hopeful words. A prayer. That’s how we become his hands and feet. That’s how we heal a suffering world. What a beautiful treasure.
Surrounded by the Spirit on Facebook
Right before my husband found a job after his year of unemployment, I pretty much reached my lowest point thinking God had abandoned us. I called on my best friend to pray for me. Not very long later my husband found work and God restored my joy. I thank Him for praying friends.
Hi Deb! Oh my, what a great story! I know exactly where you were at that time. My husband has been unemployed several times. It really does bring you down.
I’m so glad you had a friend you could turn to for prayer. And what a grace to have your prayers answered! Yay! I am thankful for your restored joy too.
Good to see you tonight
Ceil
I wrote this comment to you yesterday, then something happened today that was about this very thing. It will be tomorrow’s post! It’s absolutely awesome how God works and speaks and just how amazing He is!!!
It seems like the two of us are living parallel lives or something. It really is exciting! I’ll be visiting tomorrow
Ceil
Isn’t that the truth?!? I love that we can inspire each other, too. And, it’s just awesome how God uses His children to help out one another!
Ceil, your posts are getting better all the time and this one is one of the best. Thank you.
When we are under extreme pressure, as you describe, and we pray for ourselves and/or loved ones; even when we have great doubts and fears, we do not actually lose Faith. The fact that we keep praying, however feebly, and however doubtfully, it is still a sign of great Faith. We pray because we believe Someone somewhere is listening to us. As indeed He is.
Our very prayers strengthen our Faith and re-affirm our belief in His existance.
God bless you Ceil; and thank you for a wonderful post.
HI Victor! You are so kind and encouraging, thank you my friend! I’m glad you liked the post today.
You made it very simple. Feelings can block our ability to pray, but that doesn’t mean faith has flown. Just like Job, we can just be plain overwhelmed. Blessed be our family and friends who will share that prayer-need with us! They are the treasures in earthen vessels.
Have a great night! I’ll start my new book today
Ceil
Ceil, this post so hits home for me. In most seaons, I am grateful to be the one praying for others.
But there have been more than a few seasons where I was just not able to utter more than a weak ‘help.’
And in those times of trial, I was lifted up and carried onward by faithful pray-ers who were living in a season of strength and victory. I thank God for them. For He alone knows that I was barely able to function and I needed faithful souls to lift me up to Him.
And don’t you love that the Spirit and the Son interpret our groans and sighs and bring them right to the throne of God. What a mystery of grace and power.
This, the beauty of community here on earth and in heaven …
Hi Linda! Thank you so much for coming back tonight and commenting too.
The ‘groaning’ passage is one of my favorites from St. Paul, and certainly is support in those times when the weak ‘help’ is all I can do. (Great image) And I am really happy that there were faithful friends to surround you with their support and intercession. That’s why it’s so good that we are all at different places. If we were all Job’s, no one would be able to help!
Have a peaceful night! Maybe you are off tomorrow?
Ceil
Hi Ceil, I’ve never had anyone say to me that their prayers aren’t effective. But I have often felt the need for prayer from others because in going through things sometimes it just seems we can’t even pray for ourselves. I often pray for people or tell them I’m going to pray for them even when they don’t ask. People often don’t ask for prayers but the Bible says we are to bear one another’s burdens.
As always you have something very worthwhile to teach us through your experiences and the word. God bless. xx
Hi Joyful! I imagine that my friends probably knew their prayers were heard, but they just didn’t feel that they were adequate enough. Like you described, I have had times when I have become overwhelmed by emotion and sorrow, and it’s very hard to pray. Thank goodness for people like you who will even pray for people who can’t seem to ask. That’s a wonderful charism.
Helping carry burdens is a very Christ-like thing to do. I hope to be more like you!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment,
Ceil
Job and I are very dear friends. He has taught me much about the character of God. I, for one, might not have survived if not for the prayers of my friends when I could not utter anything but “God”. I am always privileged and blessed when asked to pray for another–but to admit all is not well in my own life–I have to get off my throne and admit my need. A hard pill to swallow with my pride stuck in my throat!
Blessings, Friend
Hi Lulu! I think Job really gets around in the friend department! How easy it is to relate to someone so down, so bereft that he forgets the nature of God. It’s a good thing we have good and helpful friends. That’s more than poor Job got, that’s for sure.
It is hard to ask for prayers sometimes, I agree with that. It means I am up against a really hard place and I can’t figure anything out. It’s a very vulnerable place to be. But we were created for each other, and God wants us to rely on each other. So my friend, I will pray for you! We’ll get through our hardships together. Sound good?
Prayers and hugs,
Ceil
Ceil,
As I write this, my wonderful husband is in the kitchen cooking dinner.
Many years ago, I had a call from a Dr. in the middle of the night from Osan Air Force base in Korea .
I was living at our home in Panama City , FL when I got this call.
My husband was over there on a remote tour for a year.
He had been gone for months when I received the call.
The Dr. told me that my husband was gravely ill and was not expected to live through the night.
I was shaken to the core and cried out in such grief thinking I would never see my husband again.
I just had to do something so I called many friends and family (yes, in the wee hours of the morning , I woke them all up from their sleep)
I told them about Jeff and asked them all to pray as we needed a miracle .
Well, one came to us!!!!
There was a long and rough road ahead for all of us as my husband was in the hospital in Korea for 4 months and I was there with him.
When I arrived in Korea a week after I had gotten the call from the Dr. he was just coming out of his coma. (He had spinal meningitis)
I so believe in the power of prayer!!!!
I am glad that you posted this as it makes me so thankful for all that prayed for my husband when I could not, I tried but I was too weak to pray and too weary!
Thank you Ceil, I am grateful you make me remember how blessed I am.
Bless you!
Oh my gosh Margie! What an incredible story! I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been to be so far away from your husband, with him so sick.
How I admire your calling your friends and family RIGHT THEN AND THERE to pray. That’s awesome!! I know that each one of them was honored to be called, and was honored to pray.
I am so glad that everything worked out, although the road was long and hard. It gives me so much insight to your poems too, especially the ones about your husband. How can you go through something like that and not be changed? Thank you so much for sharing your story, and underlining the power of prayer.
I have been truly blessed by your experience,
Ceil
Thanks dear Ceil
And there is more to the story, much more!
In 1994 my dear husband found out he had hepatitis C
He was still in the military and a new test was being done on all military members.
(he had blood transfusions while he has the spinal meningitis and that was before all blood had been tested that was given for tranfusions . )
Once again, I was in grave fear of losing my one true love in life.
I prayed for another miracle!
(My husband retired from the military in 1995 with a 15 year retirement benefit (which we had to fight for by going in front of a military panel in San Antonio , Texas)
All they wanted to give him was a severance package which was just not fair, so we fought for what he deserved. and thank God it was granted.)
For a whole year , my husband took interferon and ribavirin and he was very week but continued to work (he got a new job at the city of Colorado Springs in IT )
He would give himself the shots and go to bed very early every night.
I felt so helpless watching him go though all of this anguish and all I could do was be there for him and be a good wife and pray for another cure.
After a year he was tested for hep c and he was in remission … we were blessed again with another miracle …
God is so good and I will always sing His praises!
And that is ‘the rest of my story’
Bless you, dear Ceil
I forget to mention, I again called upon the same people that I had called ‘in the wee hours of the morning ‘ back in the 80’s to pray for my husband once more and they all said they would.
I was more able to pray this time around and prayed with ‘all my might!’
yes, we (I) needed this reminder to be Christ’s presence for someone needing to know that God hears our prayers and sometimes we just need to give a hug and some reassurance…a helping hand…a touch to the hurting soul more than just words. Words are good, but sometimes we need to be present and let Christ reach through us. I loved this today. Thank you.
Hi Pam! I think just being present is such a gift. Sometimes there just aren’t any words that would be effective, but our touch and concern mean everything. It makes me want to be more proactive in helping when I see a need.
I know you could write a long post about just this subject. I’m sure you felt how important it was to have friends who would pray, and just support you through your son’s illness and passing. Whatever we can do to help, that’s what we should do. It’s often too hard to ask, it’s often too hard to even pray.
God bless,
Ceil
Thank you…(((hugs)))) and thank you for remembering.
Hugs right back my good friend. May God continue to give us the support and [[[hugs]]] we need.
Very well put, Ceil. Thank you for pointing out that many times it is the stress that we are under that causes to ask others to pray for our particular situation. We all have those times in our lives. May they make us more compassionate with others.
Praying for you dear friend.
Hi Dianna! You make a really good point about compassion. I often think these pleas for prayers are really asking for that very Christian gift…compassion.
We do all go through times that just sap us of our strength and spiritual reserves. How blessed are we to have such support and care in him, and in our fellow man?
You are on my mind and heart today,
Ceil
Excellent words of wisdom you have shared here with us, Ceil.
As humans we can be so frail and what a blessing it is when others come along side of us and offer up prayers on our behalf.
May we never become too proud to ask.
I appreciated your humble request.
My prayers are with you, dear friend.
Joy!
Debbie
Hi Debbie! Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for your kind comment too.
It is important for me to remember that we are all here to support each other. Asking for prayer should be like breathing…natural and necessary! I join you in your prayer to never be too proud to ask.
Have a great Monday!
Ceil
I will admit to having a difficult time asking for prayer. I know, that is silly, right? I rather be on the other end, offering help, prayer for someone else than have someone pray for help me…I am just more comfortable.I know that sounds silly or crazy…hope this makes sense. It is not pride that keeps me from asking,honest, it is just I know God has it…I’ll stop here…prob getting confusing. Great post…I always marvel how you and others can make sense of things better than I do. Blessings
Hi Linda! I don’t think you are crazy at all. Most of us don’t want to ask for prayers from others for many reasons, not just the pride factor. We don’t want to be a burden, we know that God has it, so why bother? and the list goes on.
But actually, asking for prayer can be a powerful faith practice. It shows that we know that God empowers everyone’s prayers (not just mine), and honors all the children of God’s creation. I think it’s a holy thing.
I don’t think I was confused at all by your comment. I liked it! Thank you for sharing your heart.
Blessings,
Ceil
Love and compassion just spill out of this post, Ceil. Thanks for putting words to my thoughts and for giving us ideas for putting hands to our faith.
Hi Pam! Thank you for your kind words. I’m sure you do share this idea that it’s a grace to ask and to pray for others. Just like Scripture itself, simple ideas have deep meanings.
“Hands to faith.” I like that!
Have a great Monday!
Ceil
I believe that God always hears His children, but sometimes having the support of other believers is necessary and helpful. It’s nice to know we have that support from our brothers and sisters in Christ – it makes the journey that much sweeter and easier.
Hi Karen! I agree. Having fellow travelers on the road is such a comfort. After all, Jesus sent out his disciples two by two. He knew how much they would need each other.
I’m so glad we have such faithful friends, both on-line, and in our daily lives. God knows us so well!
Happy Monday!
Ceil
What are the odds that that’s exactly how I’m feeling before going here to visit your blog. Thanks, Ceil. I needed to read this.
Hi Lux! Who can understand God’s timing? Not me, that’s for sure. I’m so glad this post could give you some relief.
Don’t be afraid to ask someone to pray for you. It’s what we should do for each other! I will keep you in my prayers today…
Blessings and hugs,
Ceil
Ah… do I love this so much Ceil. Btw- your initial cast is EXACTLY like my initial cast!!! Now I am in a pretty blue one though.
There is nothing more comforting than having someone be IN IT with you, through meeting you right where you are and lifting you from THERE. Compassion comes from Christ. If we can use His Mighty love to lift and care for our friends who are suffering, through hugs and tears and serving their needs- that is truly being God’s Hands and Feet!
Poor Job. I have been at the receiving end of those words… and it hurts, not helps.
Hi Chris! Lucky duck! I would love to have a different color, but I say goodbye to the cast tomorrow. I’ll be in a boot then.
It’s true, when someone can truly understand your pain and problems, it helps so much. Just knowing that there is someone who relates. Thank you for your generous comments today, and understanding.
I think people want to be helpful, just like Job’s friends. It’s just that they don’t know how to be. Or they think that we’re a bunch of whiners or something. There is nothing like a calm, soothing word on a hard day. Correction has it’s place, but not when we’re at our lowest. We are crying out for compassion and a hug!
Hope today was a good one my friend,
Ceil
Ceil: I found a scripture that helped me when I was at my lowest. Isaiah 41:10.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I adopted it for my verse that year.I memorized it. I shared it with others, still do.
Things slowly started to turn around for me and for our son.
Hi Cecelia! What a beautiful Scripture to have memorized. Thank you for sharing it with me! Just remembering that God will ‘strengthen’ me and help me is so encouraging.
God bless you for your kind words!
Ceil
Beautiful truth Ceil! A reminder to give that hug to a doubting friend, and to never give up when doubt creeps in on us. Thanks so much for this great encouragement.
Hi Deb! Thank you for visiting, and for your Twitter love too!
Never give up. Great advice! And when I feel like doing that, I have friends and family that will give me strength to move ahead. They are God’s precious gift to us.
Have a peaceful evening Deb,
Ceil
More than once, when going through very hard times, I have had someone come beside me, reassure me. Recently I had texted a friend that I was praying for her and later had her tell me that at that time (a father in law diagnosed with terminal cancer) she just couldn’t find the words to pray herself. Thankful that God touches our hearts to pray for each other. (Thank you for your comments. Your blog now says no-reply on my end but I appreciate you much!)
Hi Mindy! If you come back, would you tell me what the ‘no reply’ means? I assume it’s some setting that I have that means I block emails back to this site? Or something?
I love your story about prayer. God is so good, and sends just the right person to do his will. Even if we don’t know why, we pray. It’s just never wasted.
Thank you for your kind comment about my visits to your blog. I am so grateful that we know each other through our blogs! Another great gift from our Father
Have a restful night,
Ceil
Oh Ceil, I saw this and started to cry:
“A uniquely human trait is the experience of great faith in one moment, and great doubt in the next.”
I am feeling so unsettled right now and I’m praying and praying and I’m so isolated in my walk that I wish I could scream the mountaintops to anyone who can hear me… please pray with me. The problem is, there’s nothing specific that’s agitating me and that’s frustrating me because I can’t even tell God about it but He knows. He knows exactly what is causing me to feel the way I’m feeling– I just keep on praying that I either discover what it is… or that these feelings are lifted.
Sorry for prattling on like this but as I read this, I couldn’t help but think if I had lots of Christians in my life, I would be rallying for them to pray for me as well.
I hug would be nice though.
Blessings to you my friend.
xoxo
Oh Jennifer, I’m so sorry that you feel so alone! I remember that you went to a prayer meeting at your church, and you really liked it. Did you meet anyone there that you could call? Or maybe your pastor could pair you with a prayer partner.
If I lived next door, I’d come running with hugs and tea! I need that too! And yes, I will pray with you and for you, it would be my honor to do that. I know that God will tell you what you need, he always does. It just might take some time. He wants you to be at peace more than even you do, he will NOT leave you to suffer alone. You know how much you love your kids? Multiply that by infinity, and that’s how much he loves you.
Thank you for reaching out to me, I’ll remember you in my prayers every day. May God rain down his blessings and peace in a way that you will recognize today, and bring you joy in his presence.
Hugs, Hugs, Hugs,
Ceil
Yes, prayer can be tricky sometimes when it seems as thought God’s not answering. It’s wonderful to know that He is listening and answering no matter what!
Hi Susannah! How nice to see you again!
It is good to understand that God doesn’t worry about the content of our prayers, only that we are praying. When hard times come, I might forget that. Or feel unable to pray either. That’s when I really appreciate my friends and family who will pray for me. It feels so wonderful
Hope the baby is doing well? Hugs,
Ceil
Right now I am at a church workshop. One of the speakers said today – God does his best work in the dark. Your post reminded me of that tonight. You are the last blog I am reading before bed and leaving enriched and feeling God’s presence with the help of your words. Thanks, Ceil!
Hi Jean! Thank you for taking some of your precious time to come and visit. I hope your workshop is filling you with inspiration and energy to continue to serve God’s people.
I like that idea that God works so well in the dark. Not that anything is dark to him, but it sure seems dark to me sometimes. It’s so good to know that darkness is like the day to him!
Blessed Wednesday,
Ceil
Thank you Ceil, thank you, for letting God speak words of encouragement to me through you.
Blessings, Aimee
Hi Aimee! Thank you for taking the time to come by and comment too. I’m so happy to meet you
It is a great blessing to be able to connect and share faith with others. Your note encourages me too!
I hope you’ll visit again sometime. Have a wonderful day!
Ceil
I must confess it’s easy for me to grow “bored” by long lists of prayer requests. Until it’s my turn to be the one needing prayer – then it’s a huge emergency and I’m desperate. So your comment about finding myself in someone else’s prayer request rang home. I try to remind myself about what people must be feeling as they request prayer for their struggles.
Hi Loren! I really understand the speed thing. It’s always an emergency for me too. When I call out for prayer, it’s because I feel so inadequate, or the situation is so big…
Seeing that in others too is a great way to be empathetic to their needs. I think that could work for all of us!
Nice to see you today!
Ceil