Fighting Prayer Fatigue

"Don’t be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God’s answers, and remember to be thankful when they come." -- Colossians 4:2 (TLB)

I was praying about a situation the other day. I know I'm not praying the way I should, as often as I should. I am praying half-heartedly for an outcome that would bless others and bring glory to the Lord; I am praying once in a while for a situation which is before me day after day. To pray as I should makes me fearful and uncomfortable; to pray in a way that fills my heart with hope, could leave me disappointed with others or saddened by circumstances; to pray as I should is wearisome.

One of the participants in this matter is extremely important to me. I want restoration inside and out; I want a powerful, eternal rebuild within his heart. But, years of praying for him to return to the Lord, years of his "faking it," have left me cynical -- or, at least, that's what I wrote in my journal this morning. No sooner had the ink left my pen, the Spirit spoke: it had not made me cynical, he had not made me cynical, I had allowed myself to become cynical. I had allowed weariness in prayer to cause me to write this person off -- against what God says. I do not have the right to dismiss anyone or any situation.

"You can't worry about his choices," my self-placating voice whispers. And I can't -- I shouldn't worry about anything --  but I should certainly be praying! Always. With thanksgiving. Because of who my God is!

And what would happen if this individual did turn it around? A miracle! A miracle I didn't pray for, wrought by a God I didn't trust to do what I labeled "impossible". A miracle I rejected. A HUGE missed blessing. Prayer is God's invitation to us to be a part of something wonderful and rejoice fully when it happens. God invites us to blessing by commanding us to pray.

And then there's the alternative: what happens if this loved one doesn't get it together? What if his behavior continues in this vein until his freedom is forever relinquished -- or his life? What satisfaction is there in knowing I didn't "waste my time praying" for someone who didn't care? What consolation is there in knowing I was "right"? None. Guilt on top of loss.

Moses, lying prostrate and praying God would take him instead. Hannah, unmoved by the passage of time or the opinions of others. Stephen, stones cutting into his flesh, large rocks sending his head spinning, praying for those who would see him dead, praying blessing upon them! These people of God were blessed by their own prayers, by their right attitudes. And the world was blessed by their faith! For me to fail to pray and see my skepticism come to fruition is the greatest of losses -- for everyone.

Let us not become weary in prayer. "And remember to be thankful for God's answers when they come."