With Prayer, God’s Peace Can Be There
In our most difficult times, the prayers of others can offer peace and ease our anxieties. Shawna Murlin, curriculum and content developer for Awana Talk About, shares a story of how prayer from a friend helped her through a stressful and concerning time.
With Prayer, God’s Peace Can Be There
Ten years ago, the ladies in our church had a secret-sister name exchange. But it wasn’t secret. And we didn’t exchange gifts. Instead, we exchanged names and prayer requests. Each woman committed to pray for their sister over the next year.
My prayer requests were fairly simple. I was expecting our second daughter, was just beginning to understand the term “terrible twos” with our firstborn, and my husband was a full-time college student completing his most challenging semester when the baby was due. We needed prayer just to survive the next few months.
But nine months later, our thoughts were no longer on ourselves. Tired, weak and afraid, we wheeled our newborn daughter’s hospital bassinet toward surgery. As my husband and I nervously awaited our after-surgery consultation with the doctor, the prayers of our family, friends and my dear not-so-secret sister calmed our anxious hearts.
A few months later, we were able to take our now healthy baby girl to church. That Sunday, my not-so-secret sister was the nursery volunteer. The same woman who prayed us through our rocky trial rocked my baby through her first-ever church service. My not-so-secret sister had been a source of secret strength, faithfully calling on God on my behalf.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
This month, please join us in praying for Awana clubs around the world by downloading the March prayer calendar. For further ways to pray, please check out our latest updates on Awana in Ukraine.
The Awana Editorial team is a group of people passionate about child discipleship and the equipping of leaders for the advancement of the kingdom. We have a breadth of experience in children’s ministry, and our heart beats with the stories of what God is doing around the world. We have an affinity for salty snacks and the occasional sweet treat, and we believe that everything is better with a good cup of coffee!
