What are you too afraid to pray for?
Too afraid to even think about asking for help and support?
Too afraid that if this one thing changed in your life, you might not know where to go from here?
Maybe it’s something that feels too big to assume anything could make it better or improve your situation now.
Or maybe the opposite is true and you think it’s simply too insignificant to pray about given the weight of what you see in the news and around the world recently.
Yet I know one thing for sure:
All prayers are God-sized prayers.
So why is it that when life feels too heavy and hard and change feels impossible, our prayers often remain silent?
Looking back throughout history, there have been countless people who allowed their fear to get in the way of their faith.
From Jonah literally running away from God’s instructions to our very real, human moments when we think we should be able to figure things out on our own, so we don’t include God in our plans.
Then there are the times when we completely turn our back on God, blaming Him for being silent.
Because He is waiting on you to seek, ask, pray…
And amazing things happen when we do!
We see this in the lives of biblical heroes like Noah, Moses, Daniel, Esther, and John.
We also see this in the lesser-known stories of everyday people Miriam, Abigail, and Jabez.
These individuals used their bold faith to move spiritual mountains. They weren’t afraid to ask for what they needed, trusting that God would do His part.
While only mentioned in two short verses in the Bible, Jabez was one man who had courage to entreat God and specifically ask for what he desired. And God listened and acted!
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.”
1 Chronicles 4:9-10, NKJV
Imagine what could happen if we had the courage to pray like Jabez. If we didn’t allow our fear, shame, doubt, or other negative self-talk yo get in the way of having a bold faith that is ready and willing to show up and pray.
But it’s okay to not know.
To be unsure and afraid.
We just can’t stay stuck here.
If you just can’t seem to find a way forward through the struggles and setbacks you’re experiencing now, it’s time to lay down the heaviness.
If you’ve been searching for answers in a hopeless situation, I invite you to pause and pray.
And if you don’t know how to pray or it’s been a while, start by simply sharing what you’re afraid of or where you feel powerless. Lay it all out there for a God who always listens and cares.
Because it’s God’s job to provide a way of understanding through the dark places when the path forward it isn’t clear, establishing our steps.
And it’s our job to show up to a relationship with our Creator that has been established since the beginning of time.
In my life, I’ve found the best way to combat my fear is to strengthen my faith.
Counter to our culture that tells us we must be strong and have all the answers, when we lay down our own power to rely on One that is much stronger and knows what we need (even before we do), something changes…starting with our surrendered hearts.
These are hearts God can use for His glory to bring about the change He desires.
Because when we seek God, we will find Him.
What are you too afraid to pray for?
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
