photo credit: trevor coultart (creative commons)
How do you handle change? What happens when God calls you out of your comfort zone into the uncomfortable?
That’s exactly what happened to me almost two years go.
I used to serve every Sunday morning in the media booth at church. I was that person that made sure you could follow along with the words to the songs. I picked out backgrounds, fonts, videos, etc. I always had to be one step ahead of the worship band, which meant I actually had to keep a beat.
Then one day things changed.
God called me out of my comfort zone and showed me it was time to step it up on the prayer team. I had already served for the last few years, but I prayed for people, not with people. Now God was telling me He was taking me to the next level. He actually wanted me to pray with people. What nerve!
I was obedient and resigned from serving in the media booth. I gave up doing what was comfortable and routine to do something that called me out of my comfort zone.
Some days I really hate being on the prayer team.
Not for reasons you would think. It’s not because it’s out of my comfort zone. It’s not because I don’t always enjoy holding hands with people and their germs. It’s because of the heartbreak and tragedies I hear about and see.
Last week alone I prayed for a woman who buried her daughter and brother after a heroin overdose. I’ve prayed for a gentleman who attempted suicide. I prayed for the salvation of so many lost people. I prayed for healing over cancer that is destroying lives. I prayed for broken relationships to be restored. These are just a few.
It breaks my heart. It angers me. I can’t stand to see others hurt. I’m reminded of the broken world we live in and the evil that surrounds each of us. I’m reminded that every day is a spiritual battle and sometimes it makes me tired.
Praying wears me out.
But I’ll keep doing it because I know the most powerful thing I can do is pray. Speaking God’s Word over the lives of other renews me and refreshes me, even though my heart hurts in the process.
I’ll keep praying because I know nothing else will draw me as close to God as talking with Him, whether on my behalf, or the behalf of others. I’ll continue praying with others, crying with them and hurting with them.
Sometimes I see my prayers answered. I see people healed. I see relationships restored. I see people give their lives to Christ. I rejoice because of the answered prayers.
Sometimes I don’t see my prayers answered. Cancer still isn’t cured. Suicides can’t be reversed. Children die. I still rejoice because I know we serve a sovereign God, even though I don’t know all the answers.
Thank you for praying. What you do matters. I know, because this last year my husband and I have been the ones upheld in prayer (maybe not by you personally but by so many others) and it’s made the world of difference while he fights his own battle with cancer.
So glad to hear that, Wendy. How is your husband now?
I feel ya,
Praying with and for others can wear you out. Hearing so much pain, our hearts can’t help but hurt along with them. It makes me wonder how much more God’s heart much break for His creation.
Thank God we don’t have to do this alone. Christ is right there praying with us, giving us strength/courage/and His heart to love those He loves.
Prayer is powerful, it’s life changing…even if we never do see the results.
Thanks for sharing.
You’re so right, TC. He prays when we don’t know how to pray.
Prayer kept me from driving into a tree.
I’d love to hear more about that, Pamela.
I hear you, Sundi Jo. Whenever I meet a friend for tea, I am always reminded of what heavy hurts most people are carrying around. It does hurt me so much and is definitely fuel for prayer. Trusting God’s loving hand is sometimes the only thing that carries me through the heartache of others. Blessings, Amy
You’re so right, Amy. Perhaps one day we’ll meet for tea. 🙂
Great perspective, Amy.
Love this post Sundi. I know exactly how you feel, being a someone who prays for people regularly at my own church. Sometimes there is a real brokeness and almost hopelessness at the stories you hear. Sometimes you do wonder why.
But as you say, we keep doing it. Because sometimes all we can do is hold on to hope, and to pray.
Even when we don’t have all the answers.
Right on, James.
When my son was in Iraq and I was going out of my mind with fear and grief and no sleep…no sleep at all…one night I realized I could let it all go because I was not the only one praying for him. That I could let myself finally sleep and relax while others held his safety in their hearts.
That gives me goose bumps, Susan. It makes it all worth it.
Sundi, praying that God reveals himself through prayer to you this week!
Thank you, Margaret. I appreciate that.
Dear Sister,
You are not alone in feeling this way. It is good that you posted this so that others can see that they’re not the only ones who feel this way sometimes in prayer. Sometimes prayer absolutely drains me…knowing that so many – even churchgoers – are lost, is a real burden for me. I long to see see revival and see God’s people truly set apart as holy, to do His will and be completely sold out to him, having forsaken the world. I long to see myself rid of my own sin and more on fire for Jesus, being a bold witness for Him and loving Him with all of being.
But there are also times when He washes over me with His peace, or with the realization that I do belong to Him (in spite of my sins which He’s forgiven), or when He causes me to praise Him with Psalms that I barely even know. I love that!
I’ve been reminded that we’re literally soldiers in a spiritual battle. Any battle will have casualties, fatigue, hunger, and thirst. Praise God that one day we will be victorious in Him, and because of Jesus! We’re supposed to feel these hardships. We are on the narrow road that is hard, difficult, and there are few who find it. Jesus promised us that it would be hard, but that He would be with us. And He IS faitfhul! Amen! The fact that we are experiencing these things is evidence of the grace that He’s worked within us…how cool is that? It’s all from and about Jesus!
Be encouraged, sister. He has called us to this, and He is faithful! Stay with Him in prayer, and expect great things. He is a great God who loves us.
Amen, Clay. Thanks for sharing.