When my sister-friend Jessica got married, I marveled at her tight-knit group of friends. Her girls. Her girls from college and her girls from law school. Their bond and love for one another was precious and I wanted it for Michala.
So I began praying that weekend for Michala’s future roommates and college friends. I prayed they would be Jesus loving girls who would be Michala’s people. I prayed they would love Michala and each other so well, they would lift one another up in daily prayer. I prayed they would become friends for life. I thought about Rebecca, my college roommate and my other girls from college and how fortunate I am to have some of the most precious, thoughtful friends who lift my family and me up in prayer; who laugh with (and at) me. Who make me laugh and cry with me when I cry.
I wanted similar relationships so badly for Michala. So I began praying at Jessica’s and Todd’s rehearsal dinner, for similar friends in Michala’s future. I begged God to prepare the way for Michala and put precious, like-minded girls in her path. I prayed for her future church; not having any idea where she would go to college, much less where she would go to church, but I started praying then for her future church and church leaders. I was so fortunate when I was at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, to find a church who would pour into the lives of college students. They became my home away from home and I could not have been more grateful.
I wanted the same for Michala.
So I prayed.
And I prayed.
And I prayed.
Then, around her junior year, Michala started meeting some precious friends who would become her life long sisters. So I prayed even harder about the friends she would meet in college and her roommates. I heard horror stories from some of my friends who had children already in college, and how wild some of the roommates were, or how toxic some of them were. And Michala’s freshman year held some of those stories, too. Not all of her roommates freshman year were wonderful. But she met her people her freshman year. She met some girls who love Jesus and love others so well, it’s just oozing out of them. The first time she got sick in college, one of those Jesus loving girls took her to the doctor, to the pharmacy, then came over to her dorm and watched movies with her. Another brought her soup and suddenly, story after story, I realized I was seeing proof of my prayers.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” - John 15:7 (NIV)
I believe in the power of prayer. Prayers whispered in fear. Prayers shouted in frustration. Prayers murmured through tears. Prayers spoken in confidence. Prayers sobbed through trials. Prayers danced in triumph. Prayers unspoken through brokenness, relying on the Holy Spirit to advocate on my behalf … I believe in the power of prayer with every ounce of me.
Now, Michala has three roommates who are also her “sisters.” They are precious girls, and I love them, dearly. Every joke, every heartache, every victory, every fear, every celebration, every mistake … they are there for one another. They lift one another up in prayer and in spirit, and my heart soars knowing Michala is surrounded by these precious gifts. I know every single time I see them, hear about them or hear from them; they are proof of my prayers. Michala found a Jesus-loving, Bible teaching church.
Proof of answered prayers.
I cannot imagine what life would be like if I could not lay my burdens, my fears, my concerns at the foot of the cross. Whatever it is, whatever you are hoping for, whatever you are afraid of, whatever weighs you down, whatever is waking you up at night, whatever causes your heart to hurt, whatever regrets you have, whatever dreams you dream, whatever it is … I believe in the power of prayer.
I can see all around me the proof of my prayers. Lay it all at the foot of the cross and trust Him. Remain in Him and keep His words in you. Then, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.