When You Feel Like Prayer Isn’t Working

Sharon JaynesPrayer, Prayer/Spiritual Warfare, Trusting God, Uncategorized 356 Comments

I looked at his mug shot and felt my heart tear in two. I had prayed for this man my entire adult life. And now Richard (not his real name) was in jail.

From the outside, Richard’s life looked hopeless. Alcohol. Women. Anger. Hate. Unemployment. Failed relationships.

Richard’s rollercoaster life had fewer highs and lowers lows as time progressed. And now he was behind bars.

My life verse is John 8:32. For twenty years John 8:32 was my personalized license plate. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at a digital clock on any given day, and it read 8:32. It’s a God-wink from my Heavenly Father letting me know that He sees me…that He loves me.

On the second day after Richard’s arrest, I went on-line and read the details of the police report. It was the time of arrest that grabbed my heart…8:32

Oh friend, that was no coincidence. The officer could have easily rounded the time to 8:30. But no, it was 8:32. God was saying to me…I see him. I love him. I’ve got this. He’s not hopeless. Not by a long shot.

In 1 Kings 18:41-45, there’s a story about a prophet named Elijah. God had caused a three-and-a half-year drought in Israel because His people had followed foreign gods. Miracle after miracle occurred during those three-and-a-half years, but it is what happened at the end of the drought that caught my attention.

Elijah sent a message to King Ahab to let him know that the forty-two month dry spell was coming to an end, even though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

After delivering the news, Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground, and put his face between his knees.

“Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. “See if there’s a cloud.”

“There’s nothing there,” the servant said upon his return.

Six times Elijah sent the servant back down the mountain to see if there was a cloud. Six times he returned reporting there was not.

I would have probably said, “Mr. Elijah, I think you heard God wrong. Maybe you spoke too soon when you told King Ahab to go and start celebrating that the rain was coming. There’s not a cloud in the sky. God’s not doing anything. And besides, I’m getting tired running up and down this mountain.”

Ignoring the servant’s complaint, Elijah said, “Go again.”

So the servant turned around, took a deep breath, and made a seventh trek down the mountain to the sea. He observed the sky, and came back to tell Elijah the news.

“Well, I saw a little something this time. It’s not very big—just a little cloud—about the size of a man’s hand. It’s not big, but it is something.”

Here’s a question to ponder: Was God working the entire time the servant was running up and down Mt. Carmel, or did God make the cloud appear all of a sudden on the seventh trek. I think God was working the entire time; the servant just couldn’t see it.

I’m not much of a weather woman, but I do remember a little bit about rain cycles from elementary school. Water falls from the sky into oceans, rivers, and lakes. The sun heats the water, and it evaporates as water vapor. The vapor rises from the earth into the atmosphere, cools, and forms droplets called condensation.

Little droplets get together and form bigger droplets. Eventually those droplets form clouds. When the droplets get too heavy, they fall back to the earth as precipitation into oceans, rivers, and lakes. Then the cycle starts all over again.

So God was working on the servant’s first run down the mountain; the servant just couldn’t see it. Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17).

Just because you can’t see God working, doesn’t mean He’s not.

I don’t know what you’re praying about today, but don’t give up. And here’s my promise to you: I won’t either. God is always working…even if we can’t see it.

Leave one person’s name or initial in the comment section that you are praying for, and let’s pray for each other.

If you’re looking for a great resource to learn how to pray for your husband powerfully and  effectively, Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe is just for you.

“I have never seen a more practical book on how to pray for your husband.” – Gary Chapman, PhD. author of The Five Love Languages.

 

 

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Comments 356

    1. Please pray for Will, my 20 year prodigal son. We’re helping, waiting, praying, & giving tough love for him to come home. Pray for my 22 year old daughter who no longer believes to see God’s hand in her life & to come full circle to the love of Christ she once knew. The world has gotten to my kids. Spiritual warfare. Period.

      Reply

        1. Thank you for this wonderful devotional. Please pray for my family and their individual needs and for me as well.
          KB-BL-kb-D- LL-BL-B

          Also pray for any stronghold that may keep us from living as God has planned for our lives.

          Reply

    5. Please pray for my 52 year old son and his family. They are not saved! Thank you for your devotional ! God bless! I am encouraged by your post today!

      Reply

    9. Juwan deliverance out of all his troubles. He’s incarcerated and has been crying out to God for another opportunity to be free. Family trying to raise money for the attorney.

      Reply

    11. KH. Please, she needs prayer for a stronghold over her mind. Stronger than I have ever seen. She’s only 24 and really struggling. Thank you.

      Reply

    17. My name is Marion and I am being persecuted by this young man. I said something hurtful to nim and apologized but he is very revengeful and is nasty and mean-spirited to me. Please pray for my anger and his revenge..Let me leave this Home with PEACE Marion

      Reply

  4. For my children, especially my 18 year old daughter, who is struggling with life . She has relationship issues with her family. I am newly remarried and she does not like her step dad or rules. As a result she is no longer living with us . My heart hurts terribly as a mom. I pray God keeps her safe and healthy as she has asthma, food allergies and PCOS. Her name is Alessandra.

    Reply

  10. My Hubby, Jay ( jewish) has tried to find Jesus. He gets so close sometimes, now needing another test & surgery. Please pray that he will be able to see God at work. We now attend a Mighty Church of believers. They have a surrounded him in God’s love. Its the pain he has from a spinal injury (fishing trip ) that haughts him constantly. Guess a word was not enough, we are closer now than ever, just want him to have some Joy from the Lord to keep his faith growing. Your many message have helped me over the years. So glad we have such a mighty God!

    Reply

  17. thanks for the blog, please pray for my grandson Thabo.
    I want God to help me gain custody of him because his mum is on drugs
    and use the money my son sends for the child to buy them.

    Reply

    1. You will have to contact Child Protective Service and go to court. It can be messy. If your son wants you to take the child, you may have to get full custody. If you do that, you will have to decide visitation. If it is more temporary, let the professionals supervise it.

      Reply

  37. Please join me in praying for my daughter Cara. She is 100 lbs. overweight and in debt. She is doubting her salvation and really struggling. She has no friends….but God!

    Reply

  43. Please pray for my brother, Irwin, and his wife, Susan. I’ve been praying for them 44 1/2 years. So far, they have no interest. We are Jewish, but he follows no religion.

    Reply

  44. Thank you for your story about Elijah and the drought. My son Lee is in prison for the last 20 months, he was sentenced to 20 years for an internet crime. He has 2 small children under the age of 4. They miss him and cry for him to come home. My husband & I (ages 78 and 63) are living in my son’s house with Lee’s wife. It’s not an easy life for us. I pray daily for a miracle to bring our son home, somehow. Thank you for your encouraging post that God is working even when we don’t see any signs. Please pray for my son, and for answered prayers to bring him home soon.

    Reply

    1. I will pray for you and your son Robin. Your story touched my heart. You are close to the Father’s heart I can tell you. He will carry you along just as He always has. He has made, He shall bear. Even to the hoar hairs. Must be so intense for you. I am in Scotland but have my own prayers for my dear Husband. He is backslidden. I am on the 4 th day of the second time through the book from Sharon. Praying for your husband from head to toe. Maybe this might work for your son if his wife uses it. Perhaps she is already but I recommend it. I have seen some changes in this last month. Mostly in me but also in him and I know the Almighty is working. Remember the Lord won’t give you more than you can bear. Maybe your feelings are a sign breakthrough is coming. Alleluia, keep your chin up lass x

      Reply

  59. God is always working. Thanks for this wonderful devotion this morning.
    Pray for my husband, Gerald Best and my brothers, Jeff and Herman Alexander
    and for my sons Brandon and Matthew Best that God will will be done and that
    they realize we serve an amazing God.

    Reply

  64. Rich, my son, walked away from God…struggling finding a job, father to 2 sons from 2 different women, he is 34 years old, lives at home with us (my husband and me). We struggle with enabling him due to communication with him ends up in arguments. Please pray for him…for us….how to lead him. This has been a long road and God has protected him in so many situations. We see that but Rich doesnt.
    Thank you

    Reply

  65. Prayers for my nephew (18 years old) running the streets, selling drugs and physical altercations resulting in violent injuries to himself and others. Feelings of rejection and abandonment by his father and verbally abusive mother leads to his feelings of trying to prove to everyone that he will be able to quit doing drugs and enter in the military (test scores extremely high all branches of military reaching out to him) …. he was arrested for possession of marijuana less than 20 grams hearing on July 5, 2017

    He does not have a father figure god fearing man in his life. I pray for his safety and that of his family and pray that God will touch his heart and soul and bring home his lost shepherd.

    Reply

  73. Please pray for Bensen to grow an obedient heart for God. He is 16, rebelling, and without focus. He is disrespectful to his mother and lives under his own rules. Please pray he comes back.

    Reply

  75. Kim Isaac. He has been down with paraplegia for 8yrs, we are trusting God for his healing and for funds so he could have surgery. My greatest burden is that he doesn’t leave the wheelchair as same man that sat in it for 8yrs. May he encounter Jesus and know the power of His salvation. Amen

    Reply

  85. I have been praying for my son, Steven, who needs deliverance from drugs. We have fought this demon for over 18 years, but God has been so faithful to us and I am holding on for my son’s salvation.

    Thank you for this message today as it has spoken to my heart very deeply.

    Reply

  89. Praying for the health of our family and for my husband’s ankle & foot to heal. Also unspoken prayers. Thank you

    Reply

  93. My son Coleman needs a job. He has been out of school now for two years and still no luck finding a job. Please say a prayer that God will open a door for him.

    Reply

  94. Praying for this country and the leaders. God is in control and I know He is at work!!! We serve and love an amazing Father who loves us more than we can understand. It blows my mind how He can love me, but He does and for that I am eternally grateful.

    Reply

  97. Praying for healing for Ardette Baker, Jacqueline Whitmore,Eric Blake, Shirley Hubbard, F. Jones,P. Spencer, Cedric Guffin, the spencer family, my church family

    Reply

  105. Praying for my son, Keith Justin. He has a spinal disease and the rods in his back are trying to work their way out through the back of his neck. He has had this disease for 13 years. I am praying and fasting for him daily for God to send him the right person that can really help him. He has had to have therapy for the toll pain killers has done to his body.

    Reply

  107. Praying for my ex-husband Donnie that God will bring restoration to his relationship with Him and that he turns away from the life he is living. I also pray for God’s will in our life whether that be that we find our way back to each other or that we must live apart. I hate divorce.

    Reply

  112. Pray for Sandra Wilson financial needs and new doors opening, favor, joy, and peace
    Blaine Wilson laid off and need new door opening
    Karen Wilson health

    Reply

  116. Prayer for my son IOA, Jr that God will keep him from evil and that his mind will be focus on the word of God and the fear of God will be the beginning of wisdom for him.

    Reply

  123. Please pray for my mom, Wanda, to be healed from dementia. She suffered a brain aneurysm in September 2014 at the age of 67 and as a FT pastor. Many have prophesied that she will be healed but after almost 3 years of thanking God for her healing she still suffers from full-blown dementia. Even though she’s alive, I miss her or at least who she was and I mourn the relationship that we should be having. I am also struggling to take care of her financially. Thank you & God Bless you in advance for your prayers.

    Reply

  128. I am praying for Daniel, Erin and Moe. This is my family. I am praying for blessings, healing and strength for the journey!

    Reply

  134. Thank you sharing this wonderful message Sharon..We are at point in our lives where we thought to ourselves,”We’re praying but nothing’s happening ‘Your timely reminder that, just because I can’t see anything doesn’t mean that God isn’t working really spoke to me.
    May Hod continue to strengthen you and bless your ministry.

    Reply

  136. I have been praying for my children, Gregg, Ryan and Kacey and their Dad, Stephen for their salvation for a very long time.

    Reply

  183. My father, R, is severely bipolar. My parents marriage and our relationship has disintegrated, and He is far from the true God. After struggling with seeing God like my earthly father, those thoughts are broken yet my discouragement is not. Please pray he finds good medical attention, a true walk with the Lord, and restores a marriage.

    Reply

  199. My husband Guy, my daughter Sophie and her daughter Sarah.
    For there salvation and consecration to our Lord and King.

    Reply

  202. J.L.jr. ,that he may admit his wrong and repent ,that he may be restored back to the family of God. My prodigal husband.

    Reply

  203. Praying for BP, LP, WP, TP..lord you know the burden that weighs on my heart for each person listed…believing for a move from the Lord

    Reply

  210. Mary, my daughter who is an addict and is pregnant. May she be free from the bondage of addiction and understand that true freedom is only found in Jesus. God’s protection over her unborn baby.

    Reply

  217. I have been prayomg for my sister Julie for 10 years. She has struggled eith addiction all of her life. I want to see her saved so badly. I admit that I don’t have the hope and trust that I want to have in believing that she will be saved. Please pray that God will give me the faith to not give up on her and to keep praying with confidence. Thank you Jesus!

    Reply

  223. Pray for our son in law .He has left our daughter and their five children.Our hearts are so heavy.
    His name is Brad. Tammy

    Reply

  224. I don’t know any of you, but I thank you for any opportunity to have others pray for my family. Pray for our son, Wilson, who is fighting the devil called drug addiction. Out of rehab for 6 months and the struggle daily is great, but my heart knows God is greater.

    Reply

  228. Praying for my son, Jason, that the Lord would open his eyes and set him free. That God will demolish the strongholds of lying, rebellion and drug use and bring Jason back to Him.

    Reply

    1. Amy… I am going through the same thing with my son Tommy. I pray for everyone on this prayer list but yours touched me because I am going through the same thing with my son. It is gut wrenching. But God is able and in his time his will will be done so we must leave it in his hands. I pray for your son and I pray for you and your family may God heal your family and bring your son back to you

      Reply

      1. I’m praying for you and your son. I too need prayer for mine who is struggling with depression addiction anger for 10 years. Thank you and may God be with you.

        Reply

  231. On my knees this morning praying for my 28 year okd son Tanner V. who is currently in jail. He has a substance abuse problem and as a result has schiczphrenia. Prayed that i would get out if Gods way and then i received this email of encourahement. Thank you God.

    Reply

  239. Mitch – lost faith in God. Addicted to alcohol, suicidal,no job,no home,no relationships,no hope.
    Help him Lord! Show him you love him🙏,Transform his mind-give him a sign that you care for him.

    Reply

  245. I would just like to praise God for the struggles we are experiencing in our lives right now! I’m sure that sounds a bit flippant but it’s what we are commanded to do in James 1:2. I am without a job, my husband is in the hospital with heart problems, I have health problems and the list goes on. But I choose to serve the Lord and glorify him in whatever I do. He will prevail!!!! 😀

    Reply

  262. My daughter in law Mandy. So young at 31 years and so sick with complications from surgery for ulcerative colitis.

    Reply

  265. JD Pray for my Son who goes to court 9/11 for DUI charge that’s pending against him pray that God Favor and mercy will be upon him in this case. And that the generation curse will be broken off of my family of gambling and alcoholic . Thank you for praying.

    Reply

  271. SB & JW, please pray that mother will stop enabling son in his addiction. And praying that son will seek God and want rehab so that he can get his life back on track.

    Reply

  273. Josly, James, Jatari, Mabel, Karyn Pray for relationships and greater financial freedom through employment opportunities.. Pray that our hearts are softened so we can be like Jesus and mend our broken relationships with each other!

    Reply

  274. Please pray for my son and his wife. They are separated. They need Jesus. They are both at fault. Mental health issues are involved. Mark and Diane.

    Reply

  285. Please pray for my son Tommy. He is in jail. His life is gotten out of control. He is 28 years old and has not worked in a few years. He has two children and another on the way by another woman . He used to love me very much but since being on drugs and alcohol his life has spiraled out of control. He is a totally different person so I proclaim “Satan I am a Child of the most high God and I command you in the name of Jesus you cannot have my son my son belongs to the Lord. I am leaving him in gods hands knowing that God is able and faithful!!!”. Thank you so much for this word today it help me tremendously! May God answer all the prayers on this prayer list and bless you abundantly!

    Reply
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  286. Please pray for God’s will to be clear for my children lives and that they will be blessed financially to go to college. Sierra ,Kenya, and Jordan

    Reply

  288. Thankful for God’s reminder of His faithfulness. I will look toward the heavens from whence comes my help! #blessingsinthestorm

    Pray for JFW!

    Reply

  289. JK
    SJK
    TE
    I thank God for you and ministry
    for the encouragement today.
    Thank you for prayers for loved ones
    and I also pray to for others here…..
    Praise God for hope restored
    and strength renewed to persevere
    God bless

    Reply

  291. My Husband Kevin sykes.
    That God would open his eyes to see his worth in christ.
    Healing from his past hurts and mistakes
    Prayer for his salvation. Marriage reconciliation. That God would bring us back together as one. And that He will return home to our family

    Reply

  296. Please pray for Jordan. My 22 yr old daughter who is bipolar. She struggles greatly. She has struggled since she was 14. She has little self esteem but you wouldn’t know because she plays the game. Keeping all of the sadness & demons pent up inside her is killing her. I’ve always been her #1 fan and stuck beside her through some harrowing situations. Yet, she won’t talk to me, won’t come see our family. She sees a therapist. We took her to a Christian therapist when she was 16 and last summer she did reveal that the therapist told her “if you would be good and follow the Lord’s path, you would be happy.” My daughter is very cerebral (she’s a student at ga tech in Atlanta) and it turned her stomach toward God. Pray that God will release those strongholds, that she will see God is good, and the more she reaches out to others, the better she will feel. I am desperate for a relationship with her but would be happy just to know she has turned her heart back to Jesus.

    Reply

  300. Please Pray for my fiancee Bradley and I. He has been incarcerated for almost three years now, and he has awhile to go. We both need God’s strength to get through this, and I want God to change us both towards the better.

    Reply

  302. My family is in a crisis due to my sister . KSB. Need prayers please. This has involved so many family members . A lot of stress and not knowing from day to day .

    Thank You

    Reply

  303. Please pray for my husband JCB. We have been together for about 35, and still is like we are starting from scratch. We became Christians in1991, and is like he has a personality desorder, ( narcissistic ). We are okay for awhile , he is working providing, going to church, and then start, the complaints, he is bored, finding fault in everything that I do or don’t do, the place that he workseverybody is mean, his boss does not like him anymore and then it comeshe quits and we are left with nothing no money no savings nothing until he gets another job. Ive been looking for a job, and when I had jobs before he says that I pay attention more to my work than him, gets very manipulative, nasty is horrible!! I try leave him but he makes our kids miserable, I really don’t know what to do i have been praying for him for years, there is always something new please pray for him. Thanks God bless

    Reply

  306. My sister, Palmer. She is living homeless right now, and is being prevented from seeing my parents due to her abuse of them. My mother is in agony over this. Please pray that Palmer will reach out to one of her siblings (there are 3 of us) and ask for the help we long to give her. Also, please pray that she comes back to the Lord…be it through me or someone else, and for God to keep her safe, wherever she may be now.

    Reply

  307. Pray my Husband Felipe Moreno who wants nothing to do with God or people of God. He is living in sin and don’t want to stop. Pray for our marriage! I want our miracle and our promises God declared over our life.

    Reply

  316. Please pray, especially for my daughter Melissa and granddaughter Zinnia, and for the hearts of family that do not have a relationship with Jesus. There are so many struggles and trials going on in our family but I know God’s love surrounds me and gives me hope and peace in the storms – some days are harder than others, but God is Good all the time.

    Reply

  318. Benjamen: Pray for renewed hope and a return to the Lord God that he loved and gave his life to. A renewed knowledge of jerimiah 29:11. This has always been his verse; make it real and new to him again. Give him back his love for life and and his hope for the future. Bless his up coming days as he has to face the consequences of his choices and actions I pray for justice, but most if all I pray that God will restore the mind and heart of this young man back to Jesus and a knowledge that God is at work in his life and that he will be a vessel for the Lord!

    Reply

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