Scripture Reading: “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.” Luke 18:1
Have you ever “lost heart” in praying? Perhaps you didn’t receive the answer you desired, or maybe just didn’t know how to pray or what to say to God in a particular situation, or you may have felt too emotional or sad to even find the energy to pray. Our church family has recently experienced a terrible tragedy in the loss of one of our dear young people, and it has been deeply felt by so many of us. But there is encouragement and truth to be found in God’s Word, and I’d like to share some of that encouragement with you.
No sincere, heartfelt prayer from a Christian is ever wasted. No matter what the outcome — something as precious to God as a prayer is never ever wasted. It is impossible in God’s economy. “My times are in Thy hands (Psalm 31:15a)”… God “knows the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10), and He told us to PRAY. Psalm 139 says that God knows every day of our life, before we have lived one of them. We have NO IDEA how our prayers are used; not the fullness of it anyway. If God saw our prayers as “wasted”, He wouldn’t prompt us — individually and collectively — to pray so much.
The truth is that our prayers are a sweet aroma before God (Revelation 5:8), and when we pray, we are being obedient.
“Now in the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26). I’ve experienced moments when I am absolutely overwhelmed with grief, and I cry out to God, and it feels like the Holy Spirit is actually grieving through me. Just like Romans 8:26, the Holy Spirit can pray through people; and I think the Spirit can use anyone.
Have you ever awakened during the night with a strong impression to pray for someone? I wonder if in those moments when we are overcome with anguish and tears — maybe God somehow lets us bear a small piece of their burden. It’s almost like a little bit of their pain can roll over onto us, when we cry out on their behalf. I believe that such prompting is from the Spirit of God; and we are standing in the gap for them, with groaning too deep for words… that we are lifting them up so that they can have grace and strength for the moment.
God honors our tears. Travail is a particular kind of prayer. It is an intense type of intercession; so intense that the apostle Paul compared it to the pangs of childbirth (Galatians 4:19). It’s very emotional, often tearful, and sometimes wordless. It can be quiet or loud; God hears it all. Those tears are a language that God understands well, and those TEARS are PRAYERS. No tear is ever wasted, just as no prayer is ever wasted! In Psalm 56:8 we read that God keeps our tears in His bottle; that’s how precious they are to God!
We are promised, however, in Revelation 21:4 that “He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes”, and there will be no more mourning or crying or pain….” It’s not just that we won’t cry anymore, it’s better than that. God Himself will tenderly wipe our tears away – and somehow we will know that those are the last tears we will ever cry, for all of eternity!
We are told in 1 Thessalonians to “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” May it ever be so, in Jesus’ name!
O Lord, grant us grace and courage to come to You always in prayer, knowing that You are a God of great mercy and love, and You always know what’s best. Help us to trust in Your wisdom and embrace Your perfect will for our lives and the lives of others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.