What To Do When You're Tired of Praying
I’ve always kept some sort of diary or journal from when I was in secondary/high school. It helps me stay in touch with myself; my hopes, my dreams, my victories. Last night, I was looking through my journal and I saw an entry I’d made at the beginning of this year. I’d been reading Psalm 119:81-82 and it spoke to me:
My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me? Like David, I longed for God to show up in some situations I was facing. This is what I’d written:
My soul languishes for your salvation, Lord! Our hope … my hope is in your word. My eyes fail with watching for your promise. When will you comfort us? When will you deliver us? When will you fulfill your promise? When, Lord? When?
Source: BING IMAGES
Honestly, I was tired of praying the same prayer for what felt like years. Which of us hasn’t been discouraged by praying for things to change? Yet, the more we pray, the more they stay the same or even get worse?
But a recent incident with my 3 year old son reminded me of a very important principle.
He loves chewing gum and I usually let him have some, now that he’s old enough not to swallow it. Recently though, my sister told me that it wasn’t good for children so I resolved not to let him chew gum anymore.
He didn’t get that memo.
“Mummy, please can I have some gum?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, J. You can’t have any. It’s not good for you.”
“Just a little bit?” and he put his thumb and forefinger together to press his point.
I was resolute. So was he. After five days and maybe a hundred requests, the boy had worn me down with his liquid eyes and beseeching voice. Sometimes he cried when I said no, other times, he simply went about his business. But he knew what he wanted, and he asked for it every day until he got it.
Isn’t that what God says we should do? In Luke 18:1, the Bible says that “Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
And when we persist in prayer, do you know what? He will give us justice! Just like it says in Luke 7-8:
“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”
You may be tired of saying the same prayer over and over, but don’t give up! You may not spend two hours speaking in tongues every day, but you can pray on your bed, on your drive to work, when you’re putting your kids to sleep. You can whisper to God, even with a heart full of angst or eyes filled with tears. God is not interested in the trappings; He is looking for sincere hearts.
Pray on. He will hear. He will answer.
Stay inspired,
Silver linings are important to see,
In these times, they are sure to fill us all with delight
Yet, the world does not perceive the small things
Things we can all fathom
But we choose to look loosely rather than CLOSELY