Sometimes as we face our struggles we can find it hard to pray for the needs of others. Whether that’s because we are distracted by our own problems. Or because we find it hard enough to go to God about our own issues. So we can’t imagine taking other’s issues to Him as well. Whatever the reason is sometimes in life we simply find it hard to pray for the needs of others. As we find ourselves struggling as well. But there are a few things to remember from scripture when we find ourselves in this situation.
Scripture teaches us to not be focused only on our interests but to also look to those of others. This applies during both the good times and the bad. When we are living good lives we should not be so focused on what we are doing that we can’t see what others may need. When we are going through bad times we mustn’t become so concerned with ourselves that we miss the hard times that those around us are going through as well. Instead, we should all do our best in any situation to look past ourselves and to those around us. Whether that means celebrating victory or mourning loss. Putting into action that other biblical teaching that says when one member of the body suffers everyone suffers and when one is honored all rejoice.
Philippians 2:4 (ESV)
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1 Corinthians 12:26 (ESV)
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Neither of those verses says that it will be easy to live them out. In fact, a lot of what believers are called to do is not easy. But that should not be an excuse for not trying to live out God’s word to the best of our ability. Which sometimes means denying ourselves by putting our own problems aside. Taking just a moment to focus on those of others. When we find it hard to pray for others remember that is God’s word calls you to do it. Even though it is hard it may be just the distraction you need.
Equally important to remember that scripture teaches us to not solely focus on our own lives is the fact that we are instructed to pray for one another. James even wrote that the prayer of a righteous person has great work. Indicating that your prayers for someone else could have a great impact. So it’s important that we never hold back but pray for all those we can even when it is hard because we never know the impact it could have. Also when someone knows we are praying for them they are likely to reciprocate and that could, in turn, have a great impact on your own situation.
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV)
2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
James 5:16 (ESV)
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
The Apostle Paul quite possibly suffered more than any other believers in history. He faced severe persecution, once was stoned, had a thorn in the flesh, watched friends die, was shipwrecked, and much more. From the accounts we have in the Bible it seems as though he never had a peaceful day.
2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (ESV)
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Yet he still always found time to put aside his issues no matter how bad they were and pray for others. In fact, it’s hard to imagine him having time to focus on his own needs given all the passages of scripture that tell of how he was constantly praying for others. I believe part of the reason he coped so well with his own struggle was by choosing to look past it and focus on the issues other were facing.
Romans 1:8–10 (ESV)
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
Romans 10:1 (ESV)
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Ephesians 3:14–21 (ESV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:9 (ESV)
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Paul is a great example to remember when your circumstances are causing you to not want to pray for others. Like you, Paul faced tough times but it didn’t allow that to stop him from taking a moment to pray for someone else. It’s important that we follow Paul’s example. But he does not stand alone, in fact, he is only following the example of the one who came before him just as he wrote in his letters.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Jesus also faced some hard times in His time on earth but that didn’t take His focus away from the needs of the church body. As the worst day of His life was looming on the horizon He still took time to pray for every person who would follow after Him. The events of the crucifixion did not come as a shock to the Lord He always knew they were coming. Often we forget that while Jesus was God He was also fully man. Meaning He knew exactly what was about to happen to Him and that He would also feel it all. This is why He prayed for it to pass but ultimately sacrificed Himself for the betterment of mankind.
Matthew 26:39 (ESV)
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26:42 (ESV)
42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
Matthew 26:44 (ESV)
44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.
Jesus was just as human as we are and that part of Him didn’t want to suffer on the cross or bear that pain. But he chooses to face it head-on for each of us. As that day approached and the end closed in Jesus put aside everything to pray for every believer that would ever live. Leaving us an example to live by. This shows that we can and should put aside even the worst things we face for a moment to pray for the needs of others.
John 17:20–23 (ESV)
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
When you are facing hard times and praying for others gets difficult, remember these things. Take some time to look at the verses that call for us to pray for others. Read the accounts of those who came before us and follow after their righteous examples. Remember that chances are those other believers you know that are struggling are probably taking time to pray for your situation and repay that favor.
I know it can be hard at times to even pray for yourself let alone others. But don’t stop because prayer changes things both in your life and the lives of others. The truth is the enemy would like to convince you to stop praying for yourself and others. In a way of separating you from God and others leading you down a path toward destruction. Fight back by taking the time to focus on others even when it is hard and see the change it can bring in their life and even your own.
If you are currently facing a tough time then please take a moment to make your need known on our prayer wall. Our staff will meet your need with prayer and you will receive a notification every time you are prayed for. If your life is going well then I encourage you to take a moment to pray for someone else. Thank you for reading and God Bless.
Visit Justin’s personal website Here. Or see articles from other writers we feature Here. Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall.