A Prayer for Encouragement When You’re Barely Hanging On
By Keri Eichberger
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
I prefaced my text with “Prayer request and long text alert,” listed a laundry list of my current struggles, and then finished with the following words to my bible study girls:
“All that drama to say… In light of this book we’re studying, instead of stuffing my emotions with ‘I’m fine. I’ll be fine. God’s got this,’ I’m resistantly reaching out asking for prayer. Because I’m truly breaking inside. (That was hard to admit). And it’s leaking out like crazy around me. (More paranoia and pressure.) I’m digging into scripture and prayer this morning more intently as the kids are finally out of the house. But since I can’t be present for our next meeting, I’m sharing my feelings with my people. Sorry for the dump. And yes, I obsessed and prayed over if I should even send this. I’m a mess. And vulnerable, obviously.”
Wow. That was scary. I trembled as a hit send and waited for someone to say something, anything, in hopes of quickly quieting the voices inside saying What’s the point, What will it help, and Who even cares? Lies the enemy wanted me to ponder as I sunk farther into what felt like the tip of depression. Life had started to feel heavier than normal about a month prior, to the point where I felt I couldn’t take much more. But much more came. To say I was discouraged and defeated felt like an understatement. I did what I knew best to do. I begged God for help, relief, and comfort. And though he certainly heard my cries and soothed some of my deep aches, I still remained sad and disheartened, more than not.
How about you? Can you recall a time that handed you much more than you could handle or lasted much longer than you thought you could endure? And then more came, or the struggle kept on, leaving you barely hanging on and on the brink of breaking? Whatever that looks like. Oh my goodness, I get it. I was just there. And maybe in the midst of the valley, you certainly prayed too, but for some reason, you mostly kept it at that. Between you and God. And hardly anyone else. I do that. A lot. And listen, running to the Lord is exactly what we should do.
Go straight to God with what’s causing concern, desperation, and grief. Because he has the power and love to lift us up and fill us in ways no thing and no one can. But there’s something else I want to remind us both of today (because I keep forgetting, apparently). God wants to connect us with others, too. He created us for community. He absolutely uses his people to bless his people. And there is absolutely power in prayer. I’ve seen it. I just experienced it. And it wasn’t the first time, nor will it be the last.
I needed a level of encouragement that I was struggling to find. It’s as if God knew I not only needed to be comforted by him, but I also needed to find a connection with others. And I’ll need it later again and again. Also true, they may need me. Same for you. Hey, if you don’t think you have someone to ask to pray for you, to share what’s weighing down on you, it would bless me to pray for you. But, I believe your reaching out to someone in your life would bless that someone back.
Friend, keep leaning on the Lord. He is there, offering comfort and, in time, lifting you up. But when you are barely hanging on and need reinforced support, God will also encourage you through your sharing and connecting with your people—his people that he shines in and through just for you, his beloved.
Let’s pray:
Loving Lord, I feel like I’m barely hanging on sometimes. And right now, I think I’m there. I need you. Your comfort and strength. Your peace and joy. I know your Word says you supply all my needs, and I thank you for always being close and holding me up. I know you will not let me fall. And I come to you asking to be uplifted. Asking for the courage to take the step to also request prayer from others. Lord, You use your people to bless, lift up, and encourage your people. To encourage me. But I know I must speak up. Help me draw your strength from the prayers of others, as well as in my intimate, intentional moments with you. Grant me confidence that you will never leave me, that you will always support and sustain me. Thank you so much for your lavish love and your desire to be ever so close to me. You are the anchor of my soul.
In your strong name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
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Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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Originally published Friday, 05 July 2024.
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