I Turned to Prayer

As manager of The Upper Room Living Prayer Center, I hear stories of people in need of prayer day in and day out. 

After Hurricane Maria basically destroyed my homeland of Puerto Rico, my family and I became the ones in need of prayer. 

I needed to continue with my daily duties at work, focusing on the prayer needs of others, but my mind and heart were back on my Island. I felt powerless, far away from loved ones at a time of need. 

It was hard to concentrate. I could not get in touch with my family or friends; I could not go there physically; I could not send any care packages; the mail was not working. What could I do? 

I turned to prayer. 

I could not reach my family, so I did not know exactly what to pray. What did they need? Were they alright? I remembered Romans 8:26: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness; We do not know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit intercedes.” 

I released my pain and worries—and the pain and su ering of those back home—unto the Lord. I focused on the promise that God is present with them, and with me. The more I prayed, the more I started to feel the peace that surpasses all understanding and the assurance that God is in control.

Sometimes it is easy to take prayer for granted, and we forget how important and powerful it is. Even when it doesn’t seem to change all of our circumstances, prayer changes us. 

Update from Migdiel: “Every member of my family is accounted for, but some still have no electricity, no signal to call, and no running water. Gas and supplies are scarce, but they are okay considering the situation. Thanks be to God.”