Read (from the New Living Translation)

³⁰Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:30

Go Deep

Today, Justin Paul admits to something he’s always struggled with – and why it’s worth overcoming.

Asking for prayer is not a sign of weakness but wisdom. I’m just not very smart.

In my head, I can deal with it all by myself. I don’t need your help or anybody’s help. Pray for me? I don’t even want you to know that I’m struggling. I’VE GOT THIS!

Being vulnerable has never been easy for me. I care too much about what people think and I never want to be perceived as weak, helpless, or unable to handle my own struggles and mistakes. When I’m hurting, I don’t want anyone to know it.

However, God never intended for us to walk through our struggles alone. He’s placed people in my life who love me, care deeply about me, and who genuinely want the best for me. People who, at the drop of a hat (and I have a lot of hats), would gladly pray with me and for me. Something I’m learning is that asking for prayer doesn’t make you weak but rather shows you the strength of the community around you. Paul, a strong leader and the author of most of the New Testament, knew this and was never shy about sharing his struggles. He knew that he couldn’t do it on his own.

When my wife knows I’m stressed, overwhelmed, and have way too much on my plate, just hearing her say “What can I help you with?” lessens the burden. Even if there is absolutely nothing she can do, just knowing that she wants to help and support me is encouraging.

When you’re struggling or suffering, there may be nothing those closest to you can do to help EXCEPT pray for you. So let them. Don’t be afraid to share your struggles and hardships. Don’t be afraid to ask for prayer. There is power in prayer and in knowing that you don’t have to go through it alone.

Notes from the Beyond Suffering Bible

Ask for Prayer – Have you ever grown weary of asking others to pray for you? Paul was never shy about discussing his struggles in life with those he ministered to and asking them to intercede for his needs. Even though he was a leader, he knew he could not be effective for Christ on his own. Asking for prayer is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom.

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