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Several years ago I bought a box of Cheerios that came with a free children’s book. The little book that came with the O’s had a darling and oh-so-prickly little varmint on the front cover. The title? How Do You Hug a Porcupine?
The story is about a young boy who witnessed a bunch of his friends hugging a myriad of animals. They hugged dogs, bunnies, cats, horses, cows… you get the picture… all cuddly and relatively safe.
All the while, the young boy was wondering how he could hug a porcupine. The main character tried several creative ways to affectionately approach his quilled friend. He didn’t want to get hurt, so at first he dawned some baseball catcher’s gear, then he tried reaching from far away while a box protected his body, and finally he attempted to tame the spikes with marshmallows.
By the end of the book, he concluded that he needed to move slowly and that the best way to hug a porcupine is this: CAREFULLY.
Cute story. Simple ending. Hug porcupines carefully. Sure.
I just wish that hugging the porcupines in my life could be such a simple and cute adventure.
We all have them, you know… porcupines: struggles, trials, pains, mountains, call them what you will, they exist and they are prickly. And strangely, oh so strangely, the Bible tells us that we are supposed to hug them.
Seriously?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV)
The rewards sound good, don’t they? Who doesn’t want to persevere… to be mature and complete, not lacking anything – not deficient in any way?
Now, let me just go ahead and ask the questions that we all wonder. How in the world are we supposed to think of tests and challenges as gifts – as pure joy?
I’ve read this charge a million times, yet the tension of it still often grinds me like fingernails on a chalkboard.
I mean, c’mon!
It’s upside down and inside out to consider it pure joy when we suffer and go through hard things.
When I’m going through a tough time my natural response is to complain or feel sorry for myself – not to say, “Thanks for the gift, Lord! Oh, what joy!”
And if this is a good thing for me – to embrace my struggles – then why is there such a disconnect between my warm longings and this cold calling? Can we even trust a God that would call for such a bizarre paradox?
I look around at the groanings of mankind and wonder, can God truly be loving and allow little girls to be molested by loved ones… porn-addicted husbands to walk out or shut down… natural disasters and pandemic outbreaks to wreaking havoc on civilization as they wipe out beating hearts by the thousands… millions of babies to be legally slaughtered in the name of women’s rights?
The simpleton answer is: Yes. He can.
But what He allows – His sovereignty – is far from simple. Far from neat. Far from understandable.
So how is it that James teaches we have to count the trials of our lives as blessings?
I see you squirming. I don’t like this conversation, Gwen! Why can’t we just talk about the comfortable side of Christianity like love, grace, peace, unity, potluck dinners, unspoken prayer requests, and heaven? Where’s the easy button?
Patsy Clairmont said it this way, “Hope doesn’t announce that life is safe, therefore, we will be; instead, it whispers that Christ is our safety in the midst of harsh reality.”
While a life purposed for Christ is chock full of blessings – many of which are completely incredible and comfortable – each surrendered life is also filled with struggles that God uses to help us become mature and complete.
The Bible doesn’t sugar coat this. It says that we are promised challenges and trials… that when we choose to follow Christ some things will actually get worse, become more difficult – that the world is fallen – broken – and that it will hate us as it hated Christ… that we have to take up our crosses and follow Him. Love as He loves. Be holy as He is holy. Forgive as He forgives. Endure as He endures.
We must be willing to search for the blessings in the blisterings as well as in the bliss.
The good news is that there are always blessings in the blisterings. We just need to look for them.
When our eyes are open to see the beauty in our broken, blessings flow… even in the bloodiest of blisters. Because trials are trials with all their pain and ache, but hidden in the dark corner of every challenge is an intimate, intensely personal invitation for us to meet face to face – heart to heart – with our Comforter, our Head-lifter, our Healer, our Tear-catcher, our Provider, our Counselor, our Refuge, our LORD.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for being my safety. When days are full of trials and pain, I know I can trust You to provide the wisdom, provision, comfort, and grace I need to endure.
Help me to hug my porcupines today and to see that each challenge gives me an opportunity to turn my eyes toward Yours and to know You more intimately.
In Jesus’ name, amen
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
What porcupine are you struggling to hug? Need a bit more encouragement? Swing over to my blog. Post a prayer need, then pray for the posts of a few others as we take this conversation deeper in community.
Love and blessings to you, friend!
GWEN
PS. Coronavirus has us all quarantined. How can we process this new reality and make the most of our time inside? Kathi Lipp joins me on the GRACEOLOGIE podcast for a conversation about ways to sift through, organize and strengthen our minds, hearts and homes in a season of quarantine, loss and confusion. Listen here.
Comments 99
My name is Cindy.
Please pray that my son will re-dedicate his life to the Lord and have complete restoration of his marriage.
I need prayer to help my heart heal and the anxiety to go away after my marriage almost broke up 2 years ago due to my husband having an extramarital affair. I struggle with feelings of anxiety, mistrust, feelings of not feeling like I am good enough, and have very low self esteem since this happened. Although I have forgiven my husband, I just want to feel peace again, and not continue to have this lump in my stomach due to still feeling so terribly betrayed. I guess my true prayer is that I need to look to our Lord and lean on Him to help me through this. Please pray for me. Thank you!
I would like to send a prayer request for my health and dealing with anxiety. I am unfortunately more prone to sore throats and nasal infections now and body aches and just being tired almost every day. Thank you so much and God Bless You!
Praying for you to find healing, rest, and renewed energy,
Their is a lady in our church who was unkind to me in a meeting. She has attacked me with words several times. I have struggled with forgetting…and forgiving. It doesn’t help that several other people have come to me and expressed problems with her. Please pray for wisdom and release for me.
I have a close friend who is battling a debilitating disease. Instead of trying to get better, he keeps making decisions that make his illness worse and then he goes into a depression because he feels awful. I have done everything I can to help him, but he isn’t willing to help himself.
My teenage son’s struggle with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.
Praying for your son…such a scary struggle. My life has personally been touched by this type of illness and I pray your son finds peace in this life. May God Bless You.
The porcupine that God is helping to face is my financial infidelity. It’s the biggest secret I have been keeping from my husband and it hurts me to hide it from him, but I know he won’t take it lightly so that is why I am just trying to pay off my debt slowly and hopefully he will never find out.
My husband’s health.He had a lung transplant early this year but has had so many setbacks, he is still in ICU.Please pray for his healing.
My porcupine is a guy I recruited to my department. He turned against me a lied about mr to my CEO and now I’m the enemy of the house. This guy still works with me and I just don’t know how to relate to him. Sometimes I wish he’ll never return to work again. I’m really suffering
They say like mother like daughter right? Well in my case I do not want to be like my mother, she is a very bitter and negative person and i find myself falling into that trap as the enemy is always whispering to me that I am going to turn out just like her and never be good enough or change, the road that I have been on is leading to a road of loneliness, heartbreak and despair. I pray that i can turn off this road and be lead the right way. My marriage and relationships are struggling.
After I had my own daughter I desperately didn’t want to be a mother like mine was. I went to counseling and it helped so much. There are still struggles and times where I have to work so hard to not behave the way that was modeled to me and is therefore the first/automatic path. But it is worth it.
My porcupines are my marriage (I am no longer in love with my husband), our infertility struggle, my husbands failed business which has put us in large amounts of debt, & our inability to sell our home to cure the debts.
Our marriage has always been rough (he has had several affairs) but we went to Christian counseling and worked through some things. We got in a good place and were unable to conceive. We attempted to adopt and had that fall through. Eventually, my husband started his own business and that failed epically.
This is not the life I imagined and I am simply tired of everything failing. I want a fresh start and I know that is delusional, so I stay. But the longer I stay, the more I resent him. Idk what to do anymore.
Sometimes we have to face the test before we get the testimony.
Lost my brother on Palm Sunday due to complications from heart surgery. Pray for his children Rod, Ryan Trina and Stacy. He wasn’t the best father but they in their own ways loved him in spite of himself. None of them are Christians and don’t have the rock that I can turn to at this time. Pray for me to give them love and comfort through this difficult time. I’m just thankful the Lord is my strength and comforter. I’m thankful I was raised in a Christian home and had loving supportive parents who prayed for me and showed me what a relationship with God was all about.
My porcupine is hurt and heartbreak because I have not guarded my heart. I seem to make the mistake of “looking for Mr. Right” instead of giving things to God and trusting he will prepare the right man for me. In fact as I type I realize this is a tiny porcupine in comparison to what God has already done for me. I mean he provided a job for me when I was laid off, he was my strength that carried me through and saved me from a 14 year abusive relationship, he protected me from cancer, and has shown time and time again he is with me through the trials. I will sing praises to the Lord through the trials because he never fails.
Sarah, I’ve been there. I had a broken engagement because he cheated she became pregnant and had to marry her. My wedding dress was hanging in my closet. I hurt so bad. It was like my heart fell through my feet. I walked around dazed for months. I finally went to a Christian counselor to find out what was wrong with me and why I chose the same type of personalities. She helped me tremendously but God was with me through it all. I decided that I was going to forget about men. I’d be friends but no long term relationships I was going to do whatever God had for me to do and I got involved in my church teaching Sunday School for a group of Jr. High girls. I was having the most fun I’d had in years. I met Richard at church in September. We had our first date in October got engaged in February and married in August. He is a Christian and is the love of my life. He treats me with respect and supports my career. He is a great provider and my best friend.
Surrender to the Lord. He is your all in all. Talk to him like David pour out your heart to him and wait because I can guarantee you when he sends who he wants you with you’ll look back and know. His best is always the best. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
I have a 5 month and a 2 year old with my boyfriend. We recently broke up and he left the house. He took all his belongings so I k own it’s over. I am very heartbroken and still in shock that this is happening. I want to just lay in bed and cry myself to bed but I have little ones that need me. I need to be ok for them so I force myself every day to get up and be proactive for them. I feel, lost, confused and hurt. This is not what I wanted for my babies. I love him so much and want him to return home. To raise our children together. I don’t think I am strong enough to overcome this pain.
Standing beside you in prayer. You will get through this. I was in a relationship for 14 years (7 years married) and it crushed me when it was over. I left my house with whatever I could fit in my little car. I had nothing and my world felt like it was ending. The verse that got me through that was Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”
Call out to the Lord when you are feeling down! Lean into the Lord because that’s what pulled me through. He saved me, and I am not longer a prisoner to pain that used to paralyze me with sadness. I know God has a plan for all you are enduring. Stay strong
I have breast cancer…just received #4 of 6 chemo treatments, with surgery, raditiation, and hormone blocking therapy to come. After my first infusion, I ended up in the hospital for 4 days due to low blood counts and fever. Please pray for no fever and healing. God is in control!
I pray for you – I had the exact same thing happen with my first chemo and ended up in the hospital for 3 days. I have never been so miserable. I also felt hopeless – and scared. The next chemo treatment has been better and I pray the same for you. I feel like I failed god’s test because there was no way I was embracing all this pain. There was no joy for me despite efforts to find some. S
My porcupine is just getting divorced,the emotional toll,the ex and how he acts. In addition to the mental health of my children.
I am having problems with my blood pressure being really high. The doctor has changed my medication dosage to seen if that will fix it. I am a single mom and worry if something happens to me will he be ok and who will take care of him. I’m trying to be strong and give it to God.
My husband’s health and recovery from a heart attack in February and a current potential infection in his foot. Better communication between us. Thank you for praying and may God bless you Gwen, your family, and your amazing ministry
Please pray for healing for my body. I have been having stomach and thyroid problems for the last 5 years. I recently started having headaches too. Thank you.
My pourcupine is my future specifically my career and education goals. For the past few weeks I’ve felt unworthy and as of God had forgotten about me when it came to those goals. I feel as if I’ve had to permanently let go of a dream I had. This has me feeling like I was at a cross roads and that I needed a miracle. I know God’s will and plan is bigger and better than mine. I just pray I’m strong enough to see it through and not give up completely.
Praying for the world and for my daughter who is a nurse in a high concentrated area of cases who also has strayed from the Lord, that she will believe in him again.
Lord, are we trying to fix things on our own? Forgive us for we know You sent Your Son Jesus and it was all finished on the cross! Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, the Author and the Finisher. We present all these issues before You and Kay them at Your feet. We show these mountains Who our God is! Help us now trust in Your faithfulness as we search Your Word constantly to see the examples of the many times You have come through for others. And You are no respecter of persons! Thank You now for coming to us and showing Yourself real in every situation we face! We put our trust in You! In Jesus mighty Name! Amen!
My porcupine is my sister with Alzheimer’s. I cannot touch her. It feels too creepy. She is not my sister, but a stranger to me now. I need prayer to give her hugs. I know I can touch her… I do not. I have lost my friend, my sister to this disease. She has become a stranger to me. I need prayer to give loving hugs to this new stranger that my dear sister has become.
Thank you for this Gwen. It is something that I really needed as I weather the storm of being called non-essential. Despite, being a stay at home freelance writer. I am literally stuck right now in a waiting zone of awaiting clients to pay me for work already completed and money expected to pay this month’s bills as well as on the editing of my first book that is ironically called “Call it a Comeback” as well as on the cover art. I am also feeling very lonley in my home right now because my husband’s factory work was deemed essential and he doesn’t feel much like talking when he gets home. I am trying to stay strong through this and I believe that your words today can help many women who are in the same boat with me. So thank you!
My porcupines are my daughters. They are 21 and 22, ever since my oldest turned 18 and recently for my youngest they both have really conformed to this world. They have slipped away from God. It breaks my heart. No matter how hard I try nothing seems to help them get reconnected. They both live in there own so it’s even harder now that I can’t see them. Please pray for me and them. I’m just going through a very discouraging time. Thank you
Thank you for this message. My porcupines TODAY are related to my work. As is most of the working world, I’m now teleworking and feel that I work much harder now than when I could go into my office. I find myself getting more and more irritated by the multitude of questions from my colleagues. This lesson helped me to breathe, step back and reflect on Gods grace for us all.
I pray for healing to the world. Pray this virus ends and a cure is found. I pray for my friend John. God is working a miracle, also showing me hope, faith and trust. God is in charge of all our needs.
Dear Gwen,
I have been reading the GIG devotions for years. I look forward each morning to sitting down with my coffee and be uplifted by each devotion.
In these times of uncertainty, I start to have dark thoughts that I can’t shake sometimes. By dark thoughts, I mean worrying about myself getting sick and my family watching me pass away. I pray about this and logically know this is the Devil trying to make me doubt my faith.
I am asking you to pray for my anxieties to pass and for me to lean more on God! Again, I say those prayers. It feels good just to tell someone.
Thank you for interceding on my behalf.
Sincerely,
Gina Lindsey
Please pray for healing of my lower back. We recently moved to a new state and I don’t have a physician to see or call.
I pray that this pandemic will soon end and families will brought back together. The porcupines along with this pandemic is estranged families and gossip. I pray that this situation that we’re all in will bring families and people together. I also pray that the president’s heart will be softened and realize sickness does not discreminate.
I am praying for you and your family!
My condensed porcupine: My family and I are deeply hurting and broken.
Requesting prayer for healing, restoration, and unity within my family; and that my husband would spiritually lead us seeking God’s wisdom and will. Thank you.
Praying for each and every 9ne of you ladies and your family.
Praying for you! I pray the same for my husband ❤
I’ve been struggling through a hurricane of porcupines over the last few years (childhood trauma, divorce, loss, anxiety and grief). Thank you for the reminder and confirmation that we can trust God to see us through the trials.
My husband and I are separated (since November), our 2 year old son lives with me, and my husband has moved in with another woman. I’m heartbroken by the breaking of our family and the affair of my husband. The daily battle of forgiveness for my husband, pain of his betrayal…I just want to be in God’s will and not my feelings. I pray the same for my husband.
The timing of this devotion is so divinely perfect it brought me to tears. I am an occupational therapist and work in an outpatient facility. The hospital that I work for is setting up a rehab specifically for COVID 19 patients, and needed volunteers to staff it.
I have volunteered and had great anxiety over my decision last night. It was a sleepless night. This devotion this morning confirms this is what He wants me to do. Please pray for my safety and my families safety. More importantly pray I will have opportunity to be a witness for Jesus to these hurting people. Thank you ❤️
Gwen I just want to thank you for your ministry and Sharon and Mary. You guys have been a well of refreshing water in the struggles I have faced these past years. God has used all of you to speak his truth into my life. So much love to all of you.
My porcupine I’m praying for is house hold salvation , restoration of family , heal the brokenness of each family Represented and connected to this prayer , I pray for alcohol addictions to go in Jesus name , I pray in this season of uncertainty God to reveal himself in such away that these family members can’t deny Our Lord and saviour:) I pray for them to have a longing and a knowing of who he is and what he created them to be 🙂 Joshua 24:15 my continued prayer soften their stony hearts and give them a fleshly one , I plead the 🩸 blood of Jesus over each door post of the house holds represented in this prayer 🙏🏻 Amen
Hi Dianna. I am 🙏 this prayer for your family member. I have a similar situation in my household right now that delves into a different stronghold. So I am agreeing with you that the name of Jesus is breaking this stronghold off of your family and that only his precious peace prevail. In the name of Jesus Christ! Amen!!
I love my older sister fiercely. I value my relationship with her so very much. She is my porcupine! I’m grateful for the strength God gives me to press on and the wisdom He gives me to do it carefully. I’m in that place where I’m trying to not grow weary from pressing on and to continue praying for God to work in her heart as well as mine during this softening process. This along with other things, keeps me in prayer and dependant on Him.
Please pray for my son he’s in a lot of trouble with the law . He has been depressed for years and he has been out of his mind doing things he shouldn’t. He has 5 beautiful daughters And a wife who needs him!
My sister died Sunday unexpectedly. My nephew’s fiance seems to have it on for me, to the point that I don’t want any interaction with her. In the middle of a pandemic and I have to pray for her. So difficult! I would rather hug
a real porcupine. This week has been the largest struggle of my life!
I’m praying for my husband and his love for alcohol. He’s not violent and can be very “Arthurish”. I just know it’s not good for his health adding to the fact he smokes too. He’s definitely someone I would love to grow old with.
Praying for you Anissa, My spouse very much the same , I pray for the addiction & hold of it to be broken , plead the blood 🩸 of Jesus over this situation, praying for your marriage to come together as one with God at the head 🙂 Detach in love and continue to pray for him 🙂 Blessings❤️🙏🏻
Praying for both of you ladies. I’m a divorced mom of 3. God brought me out of a mess of a marriage but I’m now dating a good man that seems to have an alcohol problem. No violence, just likes to drink a lot and it worries me. Any advice you ladies have, I would be happy to take!
Please pray for my 17 year old daughter who has had non stop 24/7 headaches for 5 years now. We have tried everything and nothing works.
Dear Lord, I’m praying for Pam’s daughter. Put your healing hands on her, dear Lord. That you may end her pain.
In Jesus’ name
Amen.
Praying for you Anissa, My spouse very much the same , I pray for the addiction & hold of it to be broken , plead the blood 🩸 of Jesus over this situation, praying for your marriage to come together as one with God at the head 🙂 Detach in love and continue to pray for him 🙂 Blessings❤️🙏🏻
Please pray for God to increase my patience and understanding for my 5 year old daughter, and also for her disobedience and inattentiveness to be transformed to obedience and focus.
Dear Lord,
Please give Angie the patience and wisdom it will take to raise her strong willed 5 year old! She knows this daughter is a gift from you, but it is so difficult to raise a child that doesn’t fit the “normal” behavior of a child in society. I ask you open her eyes to clarity to what she needs to be focusing on to help her child grow, mature, be a successful adult, but mostly to love You with all her heart. I ask perseverance for her as she will feel the desire to quit many times, but Lord, give her moments of understanding that this will all work out in your perfect timing and will. Thank You for Who You are, Thank You that you love her and her daughter more than we can imagine and that you are more than enough to handle this situation! One day at a time, Dear Lord!
Please pray for me as my divorce becomes final tomorrow. Pray for my son, as well. Pray for strength, peace and grace as I walk away from what I’ve known for 36 years. I struggle many days to find God in all of this, even when I know He’s completely in.
Please pray for health issues to be resolved and peace!😊🙏🏻
Please pray for healing for my stomach. I’ve already had all but 18 inches of my colon removed and still another surgery two years later after that. And I’m still having issues with my stomach. It hurts daily. I just want to be healed. Thank you! 😄❤️
I have had my entire colon and rectum removed. I know the fear of losing more. Prayers for you and your pain. During this pandemic, please try and eat a bland diet and seek peace. I would urge you to see your doctor and have this issue addressed before it’s too late, and trust in God’s direction.
Please pray for some health issues that I’m having, specifically in my head and feet. Thank you.
I have been laid off my job due to the pandemic and not certain I will be called back when we are able to return to work. Trying to collect unemployment but due to the amount of people having to collect, the system is a mess and getting through to a person to make corrections is impossible.
I have a just turned 5 granddaughter who wakes up in the middle of the night kicking and hitting her mom, but also pulling out her own hair and scratching herself. A huge meltdown. She also does this during the day. She has had these meltdowns since she was a toddler. They are getting worse. The medical community says there is nothing wrong with her. Pray for her and for help. I don’t know how much longer my daughter can keep dealing with this.
Lord I pray that you lay Your hands upon this little girl as she struggles with nightmares or night terrors. I pray that you give her peace in you Lord and help her to sleep throughout the night. I pray that you reveal what’s causing these to her mom or doctors so they can try and give her something to fix it. Just heal her mind and her little body because we know you are able God. Lord you said you would never leave us nor for sake us and I pray that you continue to keep your arms wrapped around her and comfort her and let her know how much you love her and just give her peace God. Lord we trust you and believe that you’re going to take these moments away from this little girl so she can have peace and sleep at night. And Lord comfort her parents and let them know that it will all be OK because they have you on their side. We love you and thank you for all you are doing and are going to do. In Jesus name we pray, amen! ❤️❤️
Lord God,
Send peace to this little girl’s spirit. Calm every fear, anxiety, and disturbance that tries to attack her mind and body. We declare and decree that nightmares, raging fits, self harm and sleepless nights will submit to the name of Jesus! She is HEALED! God, we also pray for her mother who has turned to you and felt like her prayers have not been answered. Speak to her right now. Send her a sign that lets her know you have healed her baby. Take away her frustration and put a praise on her lips. Show up in her home and in their lives like never before God! Amen!
Grateful for God teaching me perseverance. My goal is that I can get the selling of my house with tenants that don’t want to move. That God gives them peace and I can sell quickly to move on with my life.
I’m struggling with letting go of people who shouldn’t be in my life. I lash out and hurt them, because I’m hurt. Please pray for healing over myself, the people I hurt, and to learn I can’t keep doing this.
Please pray for me, my husband and our family as I try to fight for our marriage…alone! I fear that my husband does not have a strong relationship with Christ and I’m praying for his salvation along with a change of his heart to recommit to our marriage. We have been married 16 years and he’s recently left our home. My children and I, along with everyone who knows us and loves us, are all in shock and in disbelief that this has happened to us and especially that my husband is acting out in this way. This is not the same man as we all know and love. Please remember us in your prayers!
Please pray for me as I struggle with grief as my husband died suddenly in December of a heart attack aged only 54 years old. I’m older than he was, yet I’m still here. I just want to go home to Jesus. I’ve asked Him for help but I can’t find joy or even peace just now. I can’t even get to Church or meet up with friends who could help me. I know that God has plans for me, but I’m really having problems holding on. I’m trying not to trust my own feelings but I need help.
Please ase pray for our son. He seems so lost, angry and aggressive, particularly towards his sister. We are going to have an intervention with him now and we need to use the right words for him to hear us and for us to allow him to share the fears and I suspect sorrow that he is carrying.
Please pray for healing between my son Casey and his son Nick. Their relationship is strained .
Lord it is tough when those we love struggle to get along with each other. Please help Nick and Casey to see the good things in each other and overlook the bad. Help them to understand the other’s side and be willing to give a little. Thank you.
Lord God,
We come to you today interceding for Nick and Casey, and their father-son relationship. Heal past hurts. Cancel out confusion and misunderstandings that have hindered their ability to love one another unconditionally. Restore the heart of the son to the father, and the heart of the father to the son. We speak new life into this situation. Turn it around God. Let their best days begin NOW! In Jesus name, Amen!
I just have to say that I’m getting a lot more chores done now that I’ve discovered your podcasts! 😉 They are my favorite things to listen to while doing dishes. Love, love, love the speakers and am learning so much. Thank you for this ministry! ❤️
Please pray for peace in my family. For love and understanding between my teens and their father.
Hi,
I’d like a prayer for myself if that’s ok. Here in Scotland we are not allowed to leave the house (apart from 4 specified reasons.) My 3 children are all young adults and whilst still in the same town as me, we are all in separate houses. We are very close to each other and in 21 years I’ve never had a week where I haven’t seen at least 1 of them a few times. (2 of them go to university elsewhere). We keep in touch daily but I just can’t imagine not seeing them. I pray God keeps them safe whilst I can’t.
Thanks
I would like prayers for all the people suffering due to the pandemic. Not just those who are sick, but those filled with anxiety over our dire economic situation. I pray our leaders can come together to provide relief and we can have a common sense approach to this terrible situation.
Author
Yes, Anna! Praying with you, friend.
GWEN
Jesus,
In the midst of this pandemic, you are still moving, healing and providing. So Lord God we ask that every anxiety people are experiencing due to job loss, bank account decreases, stock market crashes and any other financial problem be replaced with the comfort of knowing you are STILL in control. Everything that has been lost, you will replace with more and better! Send down your latter rain and let your provision be more than enough. In Jesus name, Amen!
Amen I was wondering if you would pray for me to have more faith thank you
Author
Praying now, Carrie!
GWEN
My porcupines today come in the form of a “flying leap” (misstep) from a 2-step stepstool, landing across the room. I have no broken bones (a blessing) but at the age of 84, the pain is excruciating and I certainly don’t bounce back like I used to! I am very colorful with all my bruises. I haven’t found the joy I’m supposed to have. and the prickly quills of pain remind me every minute that this porcupine doesn’t want to be hugged!
I will keep searching for the blessings in the blistering and hopefully God will meet me halfway and I will get a glimpse of the promised joy.
Hi Sandra,
I to am a member of the “flying leap” club having taken a spill stepping out of my house into my garage on to a big piece of hard plastic which was left in the concrete garage floor. Imagine in your mind the kind of fall when you’re on ice skates!!! Yep, that would be it!! All of this happened right in the middle of a move! I’d sold one house and the movers were scheduled to bring my furniture in 2 weeks!
I’m 74 years old and I DID break my something…..my ankle which required surgery. So 7 screws and a plate and 4 months later I’m still recuperating!!!! I DID get moved in and somewhat settled with the amazing help of family and friends. This is the first time in my life that I’ve experienced anything like this and it most definitely has been a “porcupine” of s trial!!! However, thru this He has taught me to be more dependent on others, to ask for help…..which can be very humbling for some of us ☺……to be more patient……things didn’t have to be done NOW……..to just relax and enjoy moments with friends and family…..enjoy times alone with God. Did it take away my pain…NO! Pain of going to therapy three times a week, unable to drive, feeling confined because of that, wondering “when will this all be over and I’ll be able to just walk normally again”. Just hang in there Sandra and God WILL be there and show Himself DURING this time for you!!!
I love you my sister in Christ!!!
I would appreciate prayer for a court date coming up soon. It’s unfortunately a claim we had to file for payment of monies we loaned close friends. This will be our second time in court. We won the case but they appealed. Very hard to stand in front of folks you used to have great fellowship with and now the hate we feel from them. Pray for healing and mercy. Thank you.
Hi Gwen this was so needed . I shared it with my husband . We were both inspired by your story on the porcupine. Oh how we have those struggles right now. God thank you for our struggles help us get through these days. Help us be a blessing to others. Protect us through this Corona Virus with your precious. Blood in the name of Jesus 🙏 Amen ❤️
I’m praying in agreement with you Anna. In Jesus name.
Let go and let God.
God children to totally return to Him serving Him. Touch all our Leaderships to seek after God speak what He tells them to especially Men or Women of God.
For healings to flow to all who are sick in mind also body and soul God children to totally return to Him serving Him. Touch all our Leaderships to seek after God speak what He tells them to especially Men or Women of God.
I have come to learn that the blessings we experience when we persevere are not always “blessings” as we humans would define them. Sometimes these blessings don’t seem like blessings at all but as we mature and walk with Christ, we understand the blessing in so many things that we would never have noticed before.
The joy comes in trials when you walk away from cancer treatments and surgery and you are healed. That last blood test or leaving a mammogram and step out into the sunshine and praise Jesus for walking every step with you. Only God can heal! I know that!
Please pray for my son in jail again, he did 15 years in prison, was on parole when released, has been in jail since his parole at least 3 times, his mental issues keep him from making good choices. He has no place to go when he is released this time because we had to distance ourselves from him.
Lord Jesus please restore Nancy’s son, place people around him that can bring him healing and possibly medications to help him become whole. Surround him with you angels and carry him to a place where he can see the truth in his life. Amen
I have been unemployed for a year. I am looking for employment but have not found anything. I am about to lose my home. I have been in this home for 27 years. Please pray for me to find the right employment for me. I truly want to work.
Will keep you in prayer for a great job offer!
Father I lift up Zelda to you. You know her needs and desires. Please Lord touch her with a job that will be just perfect and bless her situation. Give her peace that only you can give. Amen
Good morning,would you please pray my strength in the Lord, it’s a long story but the enemy is trying to come up against me and my family…long story short my daughter just had a baby and I believe she was manipulated so I talked with the lady she said she had my daughters best interest at heart, but all that changed when we got back the baby…she told my daughter things were gonna get worse before they got better I feel as it was a threat to her and myself..and I know how the enemy work …I just ask if you would pray my strength and that God’s will be done, I’m not a person who likes drama but this person is grudy hearted..I’ve asked God to forgive me if there’s anything in me that’s goes against His will…don’t have anyone that I can really go to, that can really pray and stand in agreement with. Thanks for your prayers. Laverne
Please pray for my sons salvation, his name is Thomas John, & my husband Michael Anthony.
In Jesus name. Amen
praying for your son’s salvation and strength for your family
Will most definitely pray for strength and protection.