Will You Pray for Me?

Songs of Grace
September 7, 2014
Salt & Light
November 1, 2014

Will You Pray for Me?

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

All the King’s horses

And all the King’s men

Couldn’t put Humpty together again

Sometimes life is just down right hard. We all have our days. It might be a day of suffering, illness, sadness, hurts caused by another or it may be just a mess created by our own poor choices… and sometimes the weight of it causes us to just fall off the wall and break to pieces.  Not too long ago we had a rough day with Grace. (No, she’s not perfect!) She has been in a time of testing what she can get away with. On this occasion her rebellion escalated to an all-out tantrum where she “fell off the wall” and shattered to pieces.

When she had calmed down I went to speak with her.

What did you do that was wrong?

I was defiant….” she trailed off into tears, but before I could even begin to talk to her she fell apart into deep sobs grabbing hold of me saying:

Mama, I’m sorry… Mama… will you please pray for me?

I was stunned. What a request from a five year old! Her plea was an admission of helpless brokenness like that of David’s Psalm “I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow” (Psalm 6:6-7)

How often are we willing to really admit our helplessness? In our culture to be helpless is to be weak. But the Lord tells us that when we are at our weakest most helpless place, that is where His strength comes through.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Grace was so distraught by her own sin that she was more than just helplessly weak, she was utterly helpless and weak… she could not even pray for herself— she needed someone else to intervene on her behalf. In this moment, Grace was broken to pieces, yet somehow she knew there was only one way to get put back together again. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men wouldn’t be able to put her back together again; but The King himself— He could do it. She needed The King. So I held her in my arms and I prayed. I prayed for the Holy Spirit to shower the fruit of self-control and patience over her. I prayed that the Lord would help her to know His love and that she would know her parent’s love.  I prayed that her heart would be softened and transformed to an obedient heart…. and as I prayed the sobs tapered off and Grace began to breathe deeply and rest quietly and peacefully with her head on shoulder.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107: 28-30)

I kissed her on the head and she said “Thank you, Mama.” I asked if she was better and she replied, “Yes, Mama, I am so much better.” I would suggest not just better—but whole– put back together again by the power of the Holy Spirit moving through that moment.

Have you ever had a moment where you could not even pray for yourself? Where the situation was so dark, you were so distraught and fallen apart that you could not even pray on your own behalf? I have. One was not too long ago. I found myself in a deep dark place. I knew I had fallen off the wall and been smattered to pieces, but I could not get myself back together again and I could not even pray for myself. I was utterly helpless. I have struggled with returning to work full-time this school year. I will admit I have worried about many things and allowed my stress to overpower my trust in God’s plan and provision. James 5: 16 says: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  Interestingly enough, I found myself confessing my sin and asking for prayer from my five year old. I was snuggled up next to Gracie and let out a huge sigh.

What’s wrong, Mama?” She asked.

“I am sad and worried.” I replied. “Will you pray for me?”

“What are you sad and worried about, Mama?”

“I am worried about all the work I have to do. I am worried about money and bills to pay. I am sad that I have to work so much that I don’t get to spend much time with you and Daddy anymore…”

“Mama,” she said gently, “God, and me and Daddy are always on your side.”

And then she launched into a Holy Spirit filled prayer that transformed me:

“Dear Lord, Please comfort Mama’s sad heart and help her not to worry or be sad. Help her heart not to worry about work or paying bills. Help her not to fight against these things. Just comfort her heart when she is sad about not spending time with me and Daddy. Lord, fill her heart with all joy and gladness. When she has so much to do let her say: “Ooooo! YES! I am going to do this! This is going to be so fun!” And she will be filled with joy and gladness about all the things she doesn’t want to do. Please comfort her heart, Lord Jesus. In your name- Amen.”

As those prayers on my helpless behalf were rising to the Lord, I placed my heart before The King and let Him put me back together again. His gracious spirit fell afresh over me restoring me back to wholeness. When I said my final “goodnight” to Gracie I left her room a “new creation.”

We don’t like to admit we are helpless. But the reality is that we are utterly helpless— sometimes that condition becomes so overwhelming we literally fall apart and cannot even pray. But did you know that is ok? God’s word tells us: “Brothers,if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness… Bear one another’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:1-2) So call on those closest to you to cry out on your behalf and fall on your knees before the King. He will faithfully put you back together again.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds…Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. (Psalm 147:3,5)

In me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)