This is the final weekly post in our blog series and prayer challenge, Bearing the Burdens of Others: 30 Days of Praying Through Suffering. To learn the purpose of this challenge and how to set yourself up for a prayer-filled 30 days, read our introductory post and download a PDF of the prayer calendar below.
Week Five: Comfort
"[He] comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:4
As we enter into the last week of our prayer challenge, we pray you have been transformed by the healing presence of God, that you have been refreshed through His provision and blessing, and that your faith has been strengthened through witnessing the impact of prayer.
We know that God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good. But knowing is not the same as feeling. So how do we feel God’s goodness in the midst of our suffering on this earth? The answer lies within His multidimensional comfort. He lends us comfort through the affliction in a variety of ways. He is continuously reaching out to us when we need Him the most.
God comforts us through His Word
First, He comforts us through His Living Word. Psalm 119:50 (NIV) reminds us, “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” He speaks to us in moments of silence. Clinging to the truth and promises laid out for us in the Bible can bring solace and revival during those “dark nights of the soul.”
God comforts us through prayer
He comforts us through prayer. Romans 8:26 tells us, “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” We often don’t have the language to put into words our suffering, and the Bible tells us we don’t have to have any words at all. Sometimes prayer looks like simply resting in His presence and allowing ourselves to feel his comfort.
God comforts us through the Holy Spirit
He comforts us through the gift of His Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The Holy Spirit enables us to feel the “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:6) and receive the comfort, guidance and encouragement of Christ Himself.
God comforts us through His people
Finally, He comforts us through His people. To feel His tangible presence here on this earth, God speaks through others. Through daily interactions with a friend, a phone call with a family member, the weekend sermon at church, or the guidance of a counselor, God is always speaking. He also uses us as a source of comfort to others. The more we feel and receive His comfort, the more we can lend comfort to others.
And you, my friend, have done just that. You have comforted the grieving, the suffering, the anxious, and the overwhelmed through your prayers. Thank you so much for joining us for the past 30 days and making the commitment to hold those families journeying through the NICU/PICU and child loss in prayer. Your prayers make all of the difference.
If you have been blessed through these past 30 days of prayer, will you consider furthering your commitment with a recurring monthly financial gift? This recurring gift will enable us to keep serving our NICU/PICU and child loss families worldwide. We thank you for your continued support of our ministry!
Week 5 Prayer Prompts
Join us in praying for blessings for the families we serve with the following prayer prompts. For instructions on how to add them to your digital calendar and for tips on how to remain faithful in prayer for the next 30 days, read our introductory post to this blog series.
Day 26: Pray for fellowship and connection in suffering.
Day 27: Pray for peace in uncertainty.
Day 28: Pray for comfort, security, and stability for siblings.
Day 29: Pray for God's Word to be a source of comfort for families.
Day 30: Pray for compassionate individuals to come alongside families.
The Praying Through Impact
Just as the Body of Christ has many parts, Praying Through ministries is made up of a network of prayer warriors and generous donors. Three of the families we served this year share how prayers and financial donations have impacted their healing.
Pictured Left to Right: Asha, bereaved mother of Kennady Grace. (TX); The Fry family, who is now grieving the sudden passing of Jubilee after 12+ months in the NICU (TN); Phil, bereaved father of Avi. (Philippines)
"There was a constant prayer on my heart after losing my baby Mother’s Day 2020: ask for a support system to surround you in prayer and love. I didn’t know that I would be divorced and on my own just 5 months later, but God answered my prayers in May with Praying Through Ministries’ Child Loss group and Virtual Bible Studies. God was working in my waiting (He still is), and I now have a group of women who understand my sorrows, and will laugh, cry, and pray along with me. God has answered my prayer in ways I couldn’t have imagined as I’m learning to walk in grief and fully trust Him!" -Asha K.
"Praying Through ministries has been such a huge blessing in our 11+ month journey through the NICU. They have not only provided me with a supportive community via Facebook, but they have loved on my kiddos as well. My son has asked me many times over to read the card addressed to him with encouragement. It encouraged me beyond words to see my kiddos cared for." -Fry Family
"I knew there were people like us who have lost someone, but I didn't know that there was a community where my emotions are valued until I found Praying Through ministries. Through their online communities and through their hosting of GriefShare, I learned what my wife and I are going through is not something you can just magically move forward from. Praying Through ministries has helped us to realize God is in the center of everything, including our grief journey. We learned that through His Word He is guiding us step by step. Time doesn't heal all wounds, but time spent with God does." -Phil P.
Partner with Praying Through Ministries
Are you looking for a way to advance the kingdom and deliver hope to families like Asha, the Fry family, and Phil that are journeying through suffering?
We invite you to become a Praying Through Partner with your recurring, monthly donation of $10, $25, $50, or $100.
Thank you for joining us for our five-week prayer challenge and blog series, Bearing the Burdens of Others: 30 Days of Praying Through Suffering.
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