A Friend in Jesus

"Whether you are wrestling in prayer over potty training your toddler, or laboring over the eternal fate of your child's soul, the victory lies in wrestling, importunate, diligent prayer." -Leslie Ludy, Set Apart Girl Magazine

I pray about everything. All the time. A lot of times over the tiniest struggles I'm having. Sometimes a voice in my head says "why do you keep bothering God with that, that's silly." While I do believe there are things that we should not pray for ("God, please make me rich and powerful") I have come to believe that it is okay if I run to him with my silly little problems. I think of the parable of the importune woman. Importune means to beg for, persistently without ceasing. In the parable, the woman pleads her cause to the unjust judge so persistently that finally he gives in. God loves us and when we come to him in importune prayer, rather than seeing it as annoying, he is touched by our diligence and faith. It is okay to come to God with our pleas of "Help my baby to take a good nap" or "Help me to know how to raise this child." No matter the seriousness of the desired thing, if it is a righteous desire, large or small, he will come to our aid.

Also printed in the same article of the quote above are the words to this beautiful hymn: A Friend in Jesus. These words ring so true to me as I have seen His hand in even the tiny details of my life:

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
   All our sins and griefs to bear!
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness;
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Savior, still our refuge—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer!
   In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
   Thou wilt find a solace there.
4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
   Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
   May we ever, Lord, be bringing
   All to Thee in earnest prayer.
   Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
   There will be no need for prayer—
   Rapture, praise, and endless worship
   Will be our sweet portion there.

What better friend could we have?