The Help Club for MomsExemplo

Praying Through Tough Times

By Jennifer Valdois

Several years ago, I came to a place of desperation in my marriage. My husband was facing some hard situations, and, as much as I hated to see him struggle, there was not one thing I could do to change his circumstances. I was at a loss and had nowhere to turn but to God. My husband needed my prayers, but I didn’t know how to pray effectively. I wanted to do more than bring a list of needs before the Lord; I wanted to see the mountains move. Then I remembered one of my sisters recommending that I read The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.

Out of a deep desire to change, I checked out the book and the audiobook from the library; I needed answers, and I was determined to find them! Before I read, I prayed and committed to myself, “This will not be a book on prayer I read and then forget. This book will change my life.” I listened to The Circle Maker several times on audiobook and let the message go deep into my soul. I learned that there is no special prayer to move God’s heart. Praying to move the mountains is about believing we serve a big God who is all-powerful and can make all things right.

Our job as daughters of the Most High God is to trust Him to hear our prayers and to continue to pray in faith over what we are contending for. He says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). We serve a Good Father who will not give us a stone when we ask for bread (Matthew 7:9-11). His Word says He will give good things to those who ask! Moms, we must believe that He loves us and wants to answer our prayers.

During this time, I discovered that there is power in praying God’s promises found in the Bible. As I spent time in the Word, I realized how much I loved praying the Scriptures I was reading over my husband. One of my favorite Scriptures to pray became Psalm 5:12: “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” I love thinking about God’s blessing and favor surrounding my husband as I pray. Along with praying the Scriptures, I would bring my husband’s needs before the Lord, thus “circling” him in prayer.

Whether your husband needs healing, wisdom, revelation, or a miracle, you can “circle” him in prayer by praying the promises of God and bringing his needs before the Lord. It has been more than five years since I began this journey of intentionally praying for my husband, casting all my cares on Him because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). I have seen God answer my prayers in small ways, in significant ways, and in ways I never imagined possible, and He will do the same for you. Be bold, believe, and ask God to do big things!