WHEN YOU ARE IN A STRUGGLE, WHO IS THERE WITH YOU IN SPIRIT?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the
Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not
stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
(Ephesians 1:15-16)

MEDITATION:
When we are going through a tough time, we can sometimes
feel like we are alone in our struggles. We can be overwhelmed
with thoughts that others are continuing with their normal lives
while our life has been devastated with something traumatic and
unexpected (maybe even something from our past that has caused
us grief and burdened us for many years, but we have kept it hidden).

We have friends who want to encourage us and have the best
intentions to pray for us, but many are often distracted by other
things and they forget to pray for us on a regular basis. Does that
mean they are not concerned? Of course not, they are our friends
who care about us, but they get preoccupied with things in their
own lives.

However, there are some who may or may not be close friends,
who are committed to praying for us in our time of need, and
make it a high priority in their lives. Whenever we have those
feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, we need to remember
that there are those with faith who love us, and are faithfully
praying for us consistently.

We are not alone whenever those of faith are united with us in
prayer. We have friends who are asking God to comfort us and
help us with whatever trouble or heartache we are experiencing.
We can be in the darkest valley, but just hearing someone tell us
they are praying for us can provide some level of encouragement
and possibly healing as well.

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians he was always thankful for
their faithfulness and their love for others. He was appreciative
of how God was in control of their lives and it inspired him to
remember them in his prayers, and constantly gave thanks for
them.

Paul knew they were committed to the Lord and their faith was
strong, and yet he prayed that they would become even stronger
in their faith and Christian living. He had a passion for them to
develop a closer relationship with the Lord and to experience the
blessings of serving Him as they had been called.
    I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom
    and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray
    that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order
    that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
    the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people
    (Ephesians 1:17-18)

ACTION:
Perhaps you know someone who is having a difficult time right
now. If you do, then make it a high priority to pray for them
faithfully. Pray for them as you would hope they would pray
for you when you are having a tough time. Let them know of
your concern for them, and your commitment to pray for them.

If you are in a struggle, accept the reality that some will not pray
for you, but there are others who are genuinely concerned, and
are praying for God to comfort and give you strength. They may
not frequently let you know they are praying, but you know their
heart for obeying God’s command to pray for others, so be thankful
to God for their love, concern and prayers.

With God, and with praying friends, do not let Satan convince you
that no one cares. Like Paul did with the Ephesians, pray that God
will strengthen the faith of those praying for you. Ask God to help
them develop a closer relationship with Him, and give them a new
confidence to actively serve Him in whatever capacity He desires of
them.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I am thankful for prayer warriors who are
committed to praying for others when they are going through
a tough time. Seeing their faithfulness and love for others
encourages me to strive to become a better praying friend as
well. I pray that You would bless them with an even stronger
faith in You, and a more intimate relationship with You. Give
them courage to answer Your call to serve You. I know that
when You bless them, I will be blessed as well.”

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