Prayer is Not a Bookend

Life is a whirlwind.

Things come at me from all different directions, from potty training accidents, to dinner decisions, to hard conversations and situations. Only one question needs to be asked in those moments.

Have I stopped and prayed?

It’s easy to pray at the START or near the END of something. Sometimes prayers turn from cries of desperation into shouts of praise.

But what about all the time in the middle?

I could probably list a few times in my life where I began praying at the start of something, got comfortable or didn’t see any change, quit praying about it, then one of two things would happen:

1. By the end I was praising God because of how I saw him work (despite my lack of prayer) or
2. I was spouting off a snarky, cynical response such as, “why bother to pray when this was always going to be the end result.”

Both responses show where my faith was lacking. I wanted prayer to be a quick fix; a magical spell, if you will.

But, that’s not how it works.

I don’t get to claim I trust God fully then walk away and do nothing. Growth, especially in intimate relationships, takes work and is often painful.

Prayer is a vital part of any personal spiritual formation- something that is ongoing until the day Jesus brings us to heaven.

The Bible says to pray. And to not stop. To not lose hope. Did you know there’s even a parable about this??? Check out Luke 18:1-8.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reads: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

‭‭

As I walk through this life, I’m discovering and grasping the importance of making time to read my Bible and clinging to prayer, because those two things are life giving.

Don’t get me wrong, coffee, a good workout and a nice nap are also life giving for me! But those things will never SUSTAIN me. They’re tools that help ease my stress and provide rest for my body.

When I think about how I've approached prayer over the last 10 years, it encourages me for the future. As I grow older, I become more dependent on God and his wisdom more than anything else. I am learning the power of prayer. The power of speaking and praying the blessings and promises of God, not just my problems and concerns. 

God knows my heart. He knows my situations. He knows every moment during the day I feel like I'm going to explode. He sees every single panic attack that comes over me. And he is always there. 

I have the amazing privilege of being able to come before the God who knows every detail of my mind, body, and soul. I get to come to him in prayer without any judgement or concern over saying the wrong thing or sounding like I'm complaining. 

Prayer is the time I get to be most vulnerable.  

Many will say the want "real, authentic" relationships, but a couple of things tend to happen (from my own experience, of course) along this journey towards "authenticity." First, it freaks people out. They don't know what to do with someone who honestly answers the question, "How are you?" Second, they feel like they have to have all the answers or share their own experiences to relate to you rather than just listening. Third, they almost always have an opinion- often based on few facts because the relationship barely scratches the surface- because such relationships take time and energy to build (which *shocker* people don't have "time" for). 

You may think I am being cynical, and that's fine because this is my experience. Maybe yours looks different (and I hope it does). But, I can count on one hand how many "safe" people are in my life with whom I have a truly authentic relationship with... and all of those relationships include prayer as a main component. 

When I'm praying, I don't have to worry about if God has somewhere else to be or if I'm boring him. I don't have to worry about hearing any sort of judgment for pouring out my overwhelmed heart to him. 

He will walk with me, listen to me, and respond according to his will when I come to him in prayer. He will guide me in his Word. The Holy Spirit will speak to my soul without condemnation. He may bring conviction to my heart, but in a loving and graceful way while also leading me through the process of repentance. 

Prayer isn't something I get to do in the morning and then forget about the rest of the day. Prayer isn't a magical spell that relieves all of my worries, anxieties, or problems in an instant.

Prayer is my "shelf." 

Prayer is what holds me up and keeps me going. Prayer is my fuel for everyday and every season. Prayer is, quite literally, how I survive some days. 

Prayer and the voice of Holy Spirit are the things that keep my head above water. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple "Abba, I am yours" to provide my anxious soul with much needed reassurance that I AM HIS alone. Everything I come against, every challenge, every season, every joy, it has all passed through his mighty hand. He invites me to commune with him. To seek him and listen. 

What better way to do that than through prayer and devotion? Everything I own, including my Bible, could be taken from me, except my relationship with God through prayer. 

Prayer is a constant, strong foundation. 

Prayer is not a bookend.