I’ve often found myself struggling with praying out loud, especially in front of others. My husband would pray for our family during meals, and I’d leave it to him, partly because it was his role, but also because of my own discomfort. I’ve always prayed intensely in private, writing in my journal or sitting in my prayer space, but the thought of praying out loud with an audience made me anxious. I was afraid I’d get it wrong, which is ironic since we can’t get it wrong when we pray from our heart to God.
A Call to Action
Recently, I visited a close family member who has been struggling with mental health issues and addiction at a rehab center. As I drove the hour-long journey to the facility, I felt the Holy Spirit urging me to pray with my family member out loud. I was taken aback by this prompting, but I knew I had to obey. The Holy Spirit’s voice grew louder, reminding me of all the times others had prayed for and with me in my times of need. I knew I needed to break down my wall of discomfort and show my family member Jesus in their time of need.
Overcoming Fear and Discomfort
As I sat with my family member, I almost purposefully let the opportunity slip away. With only two minutes left before the visitation ended, I thought to myself, “Maybe next time.” But then I remembered that I couldn’t expect God to do mighty things through me if I wasn’t willing to step out of my comfort zone. I knew that I would be filled with the regret of not obeying God’s prompting if I didn’t take action. I thought about how I’d prayed often and fiercely in private, but how I’d never taken the step to pray out loud with someone else.
A Breakthrough Moment
I said, “I’m going to do something that’s totally out of my comfort zone, and I’m going to pray with you. I’ve never prayed out loud for someone before, and it’s an uncomfortable thing for me, but God is calling me to do it, so we’re going to do the dang thing.” I had prayed for God to give me the courage and the words to pray, and as we bowed our heads and held hands, I felt a sense of peace and courage wash over me. The prayer that came out was shaky yet powerful, and I knew that the words weren’t all my own. As we prayed, I could sense the presence of God filling the room, and I knew that others around us were experiencing it too. It was as if the Holy Spirit was using our prayer as a catalyst to bring hope and comfort to those around us who were also struggling.
A Lesson Learned
As I left the rehab center, I realized that my fear of discomfort and messing up was insignificant compared to the impact of sharing Jesus with others. I didn’t need to do anything spectacular; I just needed to show up and show Jesus. My family member looked up at me with tear-filled eyes, and in that moment, I knew that it was all worth it. I felt a sense of regret for not obeying God’s prompting sooner, but I also felt a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to learn and grow.
A Call to Action for All Believers
This experience taught me that our fears and discomforts can hold us back from truly great things. As believers, we are called to share Jesus with others, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zones. Let us not be too scared or uncomfortable to bring Him into the conversation, to bring Him into the places we go, or to introduce people to Him. I look forward to many more opportunities to pray with others and share Jesus with those around me.
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