My email was supposed to be a prayer request, but it started out sounding more like an apology. Although we needed friends to pray, I was hesitant to ask because I didn’t want my request to be a burden for anyone.
A few years ago my husband J.J. was having health problems and needed to have a liver biopsy. His doctor told us it was precautionary, so we weren’t sure if it would end up being anything serious in the end. And that made me hesitant to tell people about it. Yet I knew I didn’t want to walk through it alone or in my own strength.
Fifteen minutes after I sent my email, several friends started telling me they were praying. Not only did my friends pray – they thanked me for sharing what was going on and for letting them be there for me.
For someone who hates to impose on others, I need to remember that asking for prayer isn’t about putting burdens on my friends. Asking for prayer is about letting our friends walk by our side down a path that we were never intended to walk alone. {today’s post is a partial excerpt from my #AConfidentHeart #Devotional book}
Is it hard to ask others to pray for you?
Let’s stretch ourselves today and let others walk beside us in prayer by sharing a burden and then praying for one another. Briefly share one things we can pray for you by clicking “Share Your Heart” below this post. Then leave a prayer or say “I’ve prayed for you” under the request left before yours. Ready.Set.Pray.
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I am the Mom of 2 almost teenage boys (one 16 and one will be 13 in 2 weeks). i struggle with social media as well. I love staying connected with my friends and family and that is the only way I can do it when they live so far away. I need to read Suzie’s book – the unburdened heart first. Our noon bible study has been reading it and they all say that its been changing them. I need that. i need to learn how to forgive and let go as I struggle with that with my hubby. i get upset with him for drinking, his choice of language, the way he treats our oldest son, etc. You name it, and I can make an argument for it. I’m tired of being hurt and want to move on to the be the person I know I can be through God. I used to be a happy person. People used to call me ‘smiley’ when they saw me and now I feel like I only smile when I’m with friends, and hardly do it around my family. I don’t like that and I want and need it to change. I want my boys to remember me for the happy person I can be, not for the ogre I am.
I met Suzie at the Hearts at home conference last fall and loved hearing her speak!. So to get her newest book would be such a great gift to me! 🙂 .
i am a mother back in school and have dificulty passing an exams i am suppose to have passed two years ago. i am retaking it again in May and want you to join me inprayers for success. My kids keep telling me i can not drop out of the programme cos how wil encourage them in life. Pls i am holding tight on God for mercies for this exams.and also breakthrough in my marriage.
Hi. Im a christian but my boyfriend is not and it is starting to cause problems between us because he doesnt understand why I have made some of the choices I have made in my life. I live him and truly believe that God doesn’t want me to break up with him but we are fighting constantly. Please pray for us.
“Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
William Shakespeare.
Michelle,
I couldn’t believe my ears this morning when Renee mentioned Apraxia on the radio. My 17 year old daughter was diagnosed with apraxia when she was 2. It has been a long, lonely road but the Lord has been faithful! We started out with sign language and picture menus and now she is talking. She even participates in speech & drama….took 11th at state in Expository. People can understand her 80-90% of the time but she hates being different. We constantly need prayer!
I have prayed for you and your daughter, Laurie.
Thank you! That means a lot and is a comfort!
Hi all, this past Monday, March 24th, I had a horrible pain on my left side, I figured it was my appendix. However, when I went to the emergency room, I found out it was a kidney stone. I don’t understand why God would let this happen, cause I’m young. I pray God will use this experience in some awesome way, but that it NEVER happens again. It is sort of frustraing cause I’m going to school, and am planning on going on a long term mission trip in the fall. I just pray the kidney stones do not interfere with any of these.
Thanks!!
Hello – I have recently been given many overwhelming challenges. I lost a parent in December, my husband had an heart attack and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This all occurred within 30 days of each other. The ms was recently confirmed with tests. I am hesitant to share with even my closest friends and family as I don’t want to be a burden, or be treated differently, or for my kids to worry about this as they have endured enough. I know God will carry us through these struggles and I will keep holding His hand through it. I would appreciate prayers for strength and for myself and family. I pray these struggles will continue to draw us closer to our God and that we would sense his presence in our lives.
I’ll be praying for you, that you may feel God’s presence and that He gives you the courage to tell family and friends and that they are supportive to you during this difficult time.
RH, I’ll be praying for you to have strength and peace with these struggles. I will ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for me so that he asks for what you truly need. We are all in this together, whatever our struggles may be. Love and Peace!
My husband and I have been separated for nearly two years with him choosing to live outside of our home. I keep thinking it is God’s will for us to stay and be married because that is what the Bible says, but I am so lost in my thoughts and faith right now because I don’t understand why God has not answered my prayers for my husband to move home, to rekindle passion and intimacy, and to fully restore our marriage as it has never been before. I’m sad and am growing weary and mad at God and I dislike feeling this way. I don’t know what to pray anymore. My husband and I spend a couple of hours a day together but he is full of resentment, anger, and feels he does not love me as he once did. He wants the passion back he felt when we first met and bases his decisions on his feelings. Please pray as God leads you because I don’t know what to ask for in prayer. Thank you!
Rebekah. I am praying for you and your marriage. Do not let the enemy harden your heart. Your husband is going off his feelings instead of what the word says.. God does not allow things to come to us to harm us but to help us. He wants your heart and for you to turn to him right now for all things including you having him as your husband.For he is a jealous God. He loves you more than you will ever know. His word will never contradict what he wants to tell you but you have to trust him through this whole process because his timing is different from ours. Just because you may not hear him does not mean he is not talking to you. Don’t give up so fast. There are things he wants to change in you and your husband but you both have to surrender to him. Please read and study your word everyday. You will get peace and comfort through this process. I am going through a similar situation right now with my husband. Let God strengthen you and stretch your faith and trust in him. Love you.
Thank you so much for sharing this with me and for your prayers! I am feeling so depressed and defeated. I will also pray for you as this is so hard.
I like that story from John 9 . Mysteriously God becomes our strength in our weaknesses, and shows His Glory. Oh it can really hurt sometimes though. Renee I really like your book…and have gleaned so much, and good sense of humor. I think we could be friends in heaven. And also just got Holley Gerth book ” You’re going to be OK “.
One thing is, my son is 18 and getting ready to go far away to College, it is so hard to let go…I regretfully did not go to College so the fears of the unknown are testing my faith for sure. So the worst part so far is that he is starting to question and not believe some of the Christian truths he was raised with. I am worried for him and cry often. My failures try to discourage. But when I sit quietly with God He gives me comfort….the truth in scriptures…the salesian poems and prayers…music…the sparrows…proverbs 31 ministries….Renee’s blog….others sharing their struggles and encouragements….sharing prayers…
Serenity Prayer for us all !
Renee,
I could believe my ears when I heard you on the radio today. You were talking about you daughter and apraxia. My 3 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with apraxia and despite joining websites and facebook pages I still felt all alone. Your message was so timely. I pulled over and cried. Thank you for faithfulness. I no longer feel alone.
God bless you,
Michelle
I’ve seen the power of prayer over and over. Please pray that Our Father God in The Name of Jesus will soften the heart of Judge Tynan of the Orange County Court House in Orlando FL this week of March 31st thru April 11th so that he would approve a motion I have submitted to him. Please pray that Jesus will go to Judge Tynan in someway to touch his heart and open his eyes to see truth and feel compassion. My beautiful 17yr old son will suffer the most if the motion is not approved and my heart will be shattered. Thank you everyone sooo very much for your prayers! With love and kindness, Trina
Please keep my husband in prayer..He wants to provide his family with a better paying position; He has applied and i trust it’s all in God’s hands, no matter what. Please pray for favor over my husband Michael with this position. God knows all our needs. Please also keep our family in prayer. God knows the details. Thank you for this forum Renee!