Mind the GapÀpẹrẹ

The Friend Who Can't Pray

Apart from illness, there are many reasons why people are unable to pray. Or why God decides not to accept prayer from someone at a specific time. It is not our job to ask questions. We just need to pray.

In Job 42, God was still working in Eliphaz's life. There were many things about Him that Eliphaz misunderstood. God knew that Eliphaz was not ready to pray for what he needed. That is why He gave the assignment to an intercessor. "After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf" (Job 42:7-8, NLT).

Looking back on your journey with God, do you recognize times when you were unable to pray? Perhaps you were struggling with questions about God. Or maybe God was still working behind the scenes to bring you to salvation. Did someone pray for you during that time?

We might never know whom among us are unable to pray at a specific moment. But we can pray on their behalf, like the Holy Spirit prays for us when we cannot do it ourselves. "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words" (Romans 8:26, NLT).

Today when the Holy Spirit urges you to pray for someone, give them the gift of intercession!