Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Col. 4:12 (NIV)
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Rom. 8:26 (ESV)
Heavenly Father, quite literally, sometimes all we can do is pray for those living in the vortex of mental and emotional illness; and for others who are willing participants in their destructive addictions; and still others whose rage, pain, and trauma have more power over their lives than the Trinity; and also for those who are throwing caution to the wind and relationship with you to the curb, and are choosing to fulfill their lusts and longings anyway they jolly well please.
It’s heartbreaking and frustrating, fear and anger fueling. Father. Help us to know what our limits are in these situations, what loving well in dark brokenness and the craziness of sin looks like, and what resources are available to us. Teach us how, like Epaphras, to wrestle in prayer for people for whom we care so deeply. Some situations are beyond reason, conventional care, or safe interactions. Help us Lord; help us.
It’s heart wrenching to watch people we love become people we fear. It’s unnerving to hear threats of self-destructive behavior, and to feel helpless and hopeless in the midst of the emotional frenzy, rage-fueled words, and irrational activity. It’s paralyzing to feel responsible but incapable of helping. Help us Lord; help us.
Father, we rest in the assurance that your Spirit is praying in us and for us, when we don’t know what to pray, or do, or say. None of us is enough; we need you, Father, and all the grace you will give us. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.
