A friend in ministry lost someone he was close to this week, someone he’d been praying over, someone he’d been hoping to have another chance to speak to about the good news. He is broken by what feels like unanswered prayers. My heart breaks for him in his grief and disappointment. I wrote him a note to share a personal story with him, not because I have answers – which I don’t – but in the hopes of encouraging him by helping him understand that he is not alone. I felt compelled to share the text here; perhaps some of you can relate. (Some of the words are truncated because he serves in a protected area.)

When I received word that my brother had been accidentally shot, I wept and pra’ed for the entire three hour drive to the hospital where he lived. I called out with every ounce of f’a’th in me for healing, and, not knowing the status of his wounds, for resurrection, if need be. I pra’ed in belief, in His name, that it would be answered, not wanting to believe the alternative. I claimed the promises of the Word in His name.

I learned about a half hour before we got there that he had, in fact, died. My spir’t sank, but I continued pra’ing specifically for resurrection in power and fa’th in His name.

To this day, I cannot understand completely why my pra’ers were not answered in the way I sought. I know where he stood in his own fa’ith, and that certainly gives me peace, but when I have rough days with the boys (five now, since I have custody of his two), my mind sometimes drifts back to that awful, dark night and I wonder WHY.

I wish I could encourage you more, because I’m not sure that sharing my experience is very encouraging at all, but I will say that He has used my story in ways that astound me. People I don’t even know know my story and have approached me out of the blue to tell me that they have pra’ed for us. Women I barely know have called me – ME! – “inspiring.” I’m dumbfounded, but I have to hold fast to the belief that even the dark days are part of this small puzzle piece that is my life … which is only one small piece of the grander puzzle.

Chin up when the days are dark. Don’t dwell on what you can’t change, but let it spur you on to take next steps.

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Please pray for my friend, C. It is difficult to be so far from “home” and in a valley, spiritually speaking. Pray for his ministry and his own faith-walk during this trying time. Thanks!