Do Not Despair, Pray

By: Agatha Mangwende

How does one overcome despair? The secret is to pray. When nothing changes, you pray some more. And when nothing still happens, you pray even more. In fact you keep on praying until the cloud of despair disappears, not just when it lifts up a bit or shifts position, but until the sun shines bright again. Hallelujah! That is how we overcome despair.

In 2 Kings 4, the story of the Shunammite woman, Prophet Elisha told his servant, Gehazi. “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.” V29

The boy was dead. But not to the Prophet who knew and believed in the God of life, Jehovah El Shaddai God Almighty, The God of Israel Jehovah El Elyon The Most High God. This is the God who is the dwelling place of every believer. ‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust”.

This God can be trusted in any situation, no matter how despairing. So, the servant ran, avoiding any distractions on the way, stopping for nothing and no one. His agenda was to reach the dead boy and lay the Prophet’s staff on him. When we pray, we must not allow for distractions, we must not stop praying, we must not lose heart, we must not allow the devil to plant more seeds of discouragement. We must focus on who God is, meditate on what He says in His Word and pray out the Word in agreement.

Because He lives within us, the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to intercede for us with groans and moans that words cannot express, once we cry out to Him for help. (Romans 8:26). The servant did his running, the staff was laid on the boy’s dead body but the Prophet was the one to come and breathe life into the boy. We must do the praying, fasting and declaring of God’s Word upon our situation and then allow the Holy Spirit to breathe change, life into our dead or dark situation.

He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God’. (Romans 8:27)

So, next time you think of giving up, despairing, think instead of who God is – God Most High. Think of who Jesus is – your Redeemer, Saviour, Rock of Refuge. Think of the Holy Spirit – the Great Intercessor who speaks and reveals the Word of truth to your spirit and brings life to your body and situation. Praise the Lord!

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