I don't mean this to sound pleasant; on the contrary, it is something that I wish I did not have to witness.
It has reached the point where I woke up in the middle of the night, around 2 am, so heavily burdened by the pain, fear and heartache that my friends were experiencing...I had to wake up and pray for them. This was something I had never encountered before; and I cannot say that I am the biggest fan of how it feels.
Friendships mean the world to me. God has so richly blessed my life with people--I could list so many who have changed my life forever. And I am beyond honored to be the kind of person that a majority of them feel comfortable seeking out when they are in pain or in trouble. I love being the friend that helps through the hurting.
But at this moment...the hurting is just so heavy on my heart. And there's nothing I can really do about any of it.
So here's my prayers for my struggling friends.
To the friend who doesn't have any idea what the next step is, who feels overwhelmed by choices and defeated by uncertainty; I pray that the God of guidance gives you clarity--not for the whole journey, but for just the next step...so that you may learn to trust Him with everything more and more.
To the friend whose heart is broken by cruelty and abandonment, who feels unworthy, unwanted and cast aside without a second glance; I pray that the Healer reminds you how truly beautiful you are, both outside and within. I pray that He wraps you in His arms of comfort and holds you as you put the pieces of your heart back together. I pray that through the healing process you do not forget the pain, but use it to create strength and courage for what is next.
To the friend who feels ashamed of past decisions, terrorized by vulnerability and uncharted emotional territory, who feels utterly alone and unable to confide in anyone; I pray that you will give your burden to the One who can handle it. I pray that He envelopes you in His peace and His assurance that everything happens for a reason, and may He remind you that even our biggest mistakes or our deepest regrets can be used for good.
To the friend who feels lost from a dead end, who has no idea what the future holds and is shaken at the thought of giving up on a dream; I pray that you persevere through the frustration and anxiety. I pray that you allow God to shape your dreams and to follow where He leads you, no matter how long it may take to reach the goal. I pray that you do not allow fear to poison the new chapter of your life unfolding, but that through trust and faith you step out in confidence of His hand upon your future.
I don't expect things to get better automatically, or even anytime soon.
But these prayers could not be more genuine.
I've lifted my burdens to the Lord, and that's literally all I can do.
I know it is enough.
"Share one another's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ."
-Galatians 6:2
