Prayer: Hard Times and Hope

posted by Wendy, on February 22nd, 2009
tagged in: economy, prayer

Knowing that so many people in the U.S. are suffering from the economic downturn, and thus are challenged in ways that they never anticipated, I have felt a bit uncomfortable lately in asking for increased prayers for the peoples of East Asia. Yet the reality of lost humanity on a staggering scale continues. Without hearing of the Father’s love, one billion people of East Asia will one day depart this earth headed for an eternity of separation from the very God who created them and loved them enough to give His own Son to save them!

A Christian bread earner in the U.S. or elsewhere loses his or her job, and feels devastated. But there is still hope. Hope for a new job offer, or for retraining, or for the stock markets to change course or for the government bailout to take hold. Hope based in assurance as the believer communicates through prayer directly with the Giver of every good and perfect gift.

But when the opportunity to hear about Christ is lost, there is no hope. No hope for salvation. No hope for eternal life. No hope for heaven. Simply and profoundly no hope.

I have seen the hopelessness of those who have lived to old age never having heard the name of Jesus. I have heard the questions of those who can’t comprehend a God who can understand their language. I have witnessed the aimlessness of those who have always lived only for themselves or for their government, of those who cannot fathom a life after death or of abundant life now. By and large, these are not people who, having heard the Gospel, rejected it. These are people who simply have never heard because no one has ever told them. Therefore they do not believe in Christ.

So yes, even in hard times, I dare to ask you to cry out to the God for the millions of lost people in East Asia. Still I implore you to pray fervently and consistently for specific unreached cities or people groups in East Asia. Even now I challenge you to undergird our Christian workers in East Asia with prayer to the One who sustains them through years of faithful service.

Let us pray unceasingly and yes, increasingly. Not just on the sunny days, but on the rainy ones as well. Not just when health is good, but also when illness assails. Not only when we can spend money without undue concern, but when the economy shrivels and sucks the very life out of our retirement accounts.

If the call to reach the world for Christ matters greatly when salaries are comfortable and house payments are met on time, can it matter any less when credit cards are maxed out and “for sale” signs must be posted in the front yard?

The desperation of those without hope continues. Now more than ever, let those of us who know that our true treasures are “laid up in heaven” pray for those who are still without hope.

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