5 Things to Pray During Trials in Your Life

“Mom, I think I need to go to the doctor.” My son felt so bad he texted me from his bed upstairs. When a child asks to go to the doctor, you know there’s a problem.

So I ran upstairs and discovered Bret had a high fever and severe leg aches.

We were at the doctor’s office within the hour.

No one wants their child, or another loved one, to suffer illness. It’s a helpless feeling when there’s nothing you can do to alleviate their symptoms. But through this experience I prayed five different things, which you can also pray during your life’s trials.

1. Pray for Healing.  Not only did I pray for Bret’s healing, but I asked friends to pray for him as well.  The Facebook response was heartwarming and I had confidence we were fine because of all the prayers reaching the throne of God. God is still a healer. He heals both physical and emotional illness. But we have to ask for healing first. Psalm 6:2 says, “Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.”

2. Pray to Know How to Help. When the pediatrician told me there was a day delay for blood work results, we opted to go to the emergency room for faster results. Fortunately, the blood work was normal, and the ER doc diagnosed Bret’s illness as viral. But that didn’t take away my son’s fever or the pain so I became his nurse, making sure he had fluids, pain relievers and soup.  When praying how to help, what I realized is that my son, who usually shuns mama’s love, needed love and attention while ill. Perhaps the trial you are in the midst of is the result of someone else’s problem, but it has affected you. Your first reaction may be to get angry, but in reality, he or she may need your help. Ask God to tell you what to do or say.  “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:1-5).

3. Pray for Provision. In my case, I had a speaking engagement the following day, but didn’t want to leave my son alone. I asked my husband if he could work from home so I could honor my commitment and he agreed to do that.  God provided my husband to care for our son when I could not. What kind of provision do you need? Is it financial? Is it love? Is it physical? Emotional?. God understands your problems and can provide for you.  “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

4. Pray for God to work in all concerned during the trial. My son is 19 and very independent. I prayed that through this scare, he would realize his mortality, and understand his need for Christ at the core of his life. We often think we can handle this life on our own, but God often allows us to go through more than we can handle because he wants us to realize we need him. Perhaps you are struggling with something you are dealing with right now. Years ago when I went through a very difficult trial, a wise friend told me to ask God what he wanted me to learn from the situation. There is always a lesson in a trial, and there is usually great spiritual growth. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2).

5. Praise and thank God when the trial is over. I knew Bret was feeling better when I found him sitting upright in a chair playing video games. The following day he had his golf clothes on, ready to get outside. I was thankful my son was well again, and praised God for his healing. Whatever trial you go through, never forget to thank the Lord for pulling you through it. We often remember to pray during the difficulty but forget to go back to God and give him credit for the victory. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner? Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”