You’re Never Alone In Prayer – ryan

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:19-20 NIV).

“Lord, what do you want me to do?” That was the prayer I repeated all the way home. I didn’t speed or drive erratically. There were no tears. I calmly repeated my prayer again and again. I had found out my husband was having an affair, and I knew what I was probably going to face when I got home. Although, I had no idea the depth of pain or the upheaval I was about to experience.

At the time, I never gave much thought to whether my husband might be praying along with me. The thought only occurred to me nine years later. If he was praying at the same time, what was his prayer?

Once God echoed the thought in my mind, it took me a while to ask my husband. He is usually a little reluctant to have hard conversations. Amazingly, he was quick to answer. He told me as I was driving home asking God what to do, he had been praying for God to restore our marriage and find it in my heart not to leave him.

I had always told my husband the one thing I would never forgive him for was having an affair. That day God’s voice echoed in my heart: forgive. It was not what I had planned, but it was my answer and the miraculous answer to my husband’s prayer. I don’t know if he sees it that way, but it most definitely was a miracle.

Have you ever wondered how God works when two people are praying simultaneously? Somehow God works it all out for our good with an answer to all our prayers. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It’s hard for me to believe it’s been nine years since that day, but I wonder how things would have been different if my husband hadn’t been praying or if I hadn’t prayed all the way home. Would I have forgiven him? We all know God allows us to suffer the consequences of our sins. My husband certainly did in many ways. But his one heart-felt prayer was definitely answered.

My prayer was answered too. Even though what God asked me to do seemed impossible, I surrendered in obedience. I knew the strength to forgive would come from God because it was not within my power.

I’m grateful God took a situation that Satan meant for destruction and turned it into restoration. I’m grateful my husband chose repentance, and I chose obedience. I’m grateful that through my obedience, God showed me the power of forgiveness. It is only through forgiveness that I experienced God’s power to heal my broken heart.

Remember, even when you are sitting alone with God in prayer, you are never truly alone in prayer. There could be someone else praying simultaneously (Matthew 18:19-20). God takes all our prayers and obedience and somehow, in ways we will never understand, works it all out for the good of those who love Him.

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:24-25).