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Articles about Prayer

Reflections on Prayer

Jolene Cassellius

Prayer in the Midst of Pain

At the age of 9, I began suffering from asthma.  In the middle of the night, I would wake up gasping for breath.  Alone in the darkness, fear would fill me.  I would lay awake for hours, crying and calling out to the only One I felt could hear me.  My childhood and teenage years became marked by these dark nights of desperate prayer.  Begging God for His help, peace would eventually encompass me.  God’s presence became my comfort.  Looking back, I realize that my suffering alone allowed me to reach a point of desperation where I could learn to run to God consistently.  Even as a child, pain taught me to acknowledge my need for God’s help.  Years of dark nights gave me an invaluable understanding of God’s faithful response to our prayers.  I learned the beauty of allowing the darkest moments in my life to become an effective classroom in learning to seek and find God.

The Lifestyle of Prayer

The mall was in full holiday array.  I had just finished comparing prices on a number of potential gifts.  My mind was busy calculating how to make my budget stretch.  The cheerful music and brightly decorated windows went unnoticed.  I was completely absorbed as I hurried past other shoppers.  Then, I saw her.  She was sitting on a bench.  Her eyes were diverted.  The pain they reflected, however, pierced me to the core.  Suddenly, all thoughts of gifts and budgets disappeared.  I walked to my car, overwhelmed as I prayed for this woman, a complete stranger.  I do not know her story, it does not matter.  For the next several days, the memory of her eyes continued to haunt me and challenge me to pray.  Every day, we are surrounded by pain.  When we can allow the needs of others to daily interrupt our self-absorbed thoughts, prayer becomes a lifestyle rather than a task. 

Sincerity in Prayer

Have you ever felt anguish in your soul?  Hannah was a woman who suffered much grief.  She was barren.  Her husband had two wives.  Her rival, the mother of many children, cruelly mocked her infertility for years.  One day, as the family worshipped at the temple, Hannah cried out to God from the depths of her soul.  Without pretense, moderation or elegance, the Bible says she poured out her soul to the Lord.  So intense was her prayer, that the priest thought she was drunk.  When she explained her heartache, the priest blessed her and she left.  God heard her cry and gave her a son, Samuel.  Sometimes, we approach God with a formality or professionalism that hides our true feelings.  God longs for authenticity.  Others may not understand our passion or desperation, but God blesses those who come to him in sincerity, praying from the depths of their soul.

Listening in Prayer

Imagine going to the doctor with painful symptoms.  You walk in and begin telling her every detail of your infirmity.  You cry.  You beg for assistance and advice.  Then, before she has a chance to respond or help, you stand up and walk out.  Outside the door, you see a friend and complain that the doctor you just saw is uncaring and distant.  You, however, failed to take the time to receive her advice and help.  Often we do the same thing to God.  Waiting and listening are habits that few of us possess.  Yet, the Bible tells us to be still, to cease striving and to know that He is God.  We can talk and talk, but if we never stop to listen and to wait when we pray, we risk missing the response to our prayer.

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