Have you ever felt so desperate that you didn’t know where to turn? Or completely lost hope? At some point in life, every one of us goes through crises too heavy to handle alone.
When life weighs you down, who lifts you up in prayer?
While sharing struggles with friends and family is helpful, it takes action for things to truly change. Calling on God is the most powerful thing someone can do for you, whether you personally have faith or not.
“God is as close as a prayer,” Billy Graham once said. “He is our support and our strength. He will help us make our way up again from whatever depths we have fallen.”
Prayer is talking to God.
Knowing someone cares and is intentionally praying for you can mean everything in tough times, especially in a world where many people seem indifferent to others’ feelings because of their own agenda.
God designed us to help each other. In John 15:12, His Word says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (ESV).
Who Can You Ask?
At first, it might seem a little awkward to ask someone to support you spiritually, but be intentional.
You could start with a family member, friend, neighbor, someone at your church, or a co-worker who has a strong faith in God. Whoever you ask will likely consider it a privilege to pray for you.
If you don’t know where to turn, there are people who care and are waiting for your call to the Billy Graham prayer line.
Since this ministry started in 2020, more than 1 million people have called to share their challenges and to ask for prayer.
>>Call the Billy Graham prayer line at 888-388-2683.
Here are examples of recent calls to the prayer line.
- Joey* was depressed. His wife had left him. He was stressed, lonely, and had lost his home. He also didn’t know where he stood with God. A trained prayer line staff member told him, “I can’t imagine what you are going through, but God does,” and stopped to pray for Joey. The ministry associate also shared about the hope of eternal life that God offers all of us. Joey decided he wanted that, and he prayed to follow Christ.
- Kathy* didn’t know what she needed; she just knew that her life wasn’t going well. When she called the prayer line, a trained staff member told her about Jesus. Kathy said, “Well, I don’t know about that.” The ministry associate went on to share a couple of Scriptures: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV). And from Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (ESV). After hearing more about how Jesus offers hope and joy, Kathy had a heart change and prayed to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.
- Benjamin* was struggling with whether God is real and didn’t feel like God cared about him. After talking with the trained staff member about how God showed His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins, Benjamin wanted to receive God’s gift of salvation. At that moment, “His whole demeanor changed,” said the ministry associate. “God was near. He was in control.”
- Darren* called crying, sharing how his drinking had destroyed his marriage of 36 years. Darren said he had messed up his life and wanted God to forgive him. He prayed with the trained staff member, asking God to forgive his sins and save him.
Whatever circumstances you face, God is there. Know Him today.
How do you pray? Does God really answer prayers? Read more.
*Names changed to protect privacy.
Give To Where Most Needed
