If you do not know the song by Jonathan David Helser, Never Giving Up, I would recommend it! This phrase has come to mind a few times the past few months. I have been so encouraged by believers I have met and their desire for their family to know the Lord and their persistence in praying for them.
When we were in Bulgaria, a lady invited us over for dinner. This was a huge sacrifice for her. She felt the Lord had led her to invite us and she wanted to invite us so that we could pray for her husband. He is not a believer and it was a miraculous step for him to even allow us to come over for dinner. When we got there he sat there as his wife spoke of her desire for him to know the Lord. It shocked me that she was this open and honest in front of him, but he did not seem to mind. Then he ended up allowing us to pray for him, another HUGE step. Then when we asked how we could pray for her, she said the only thing she desires is for her family all to know the Lord. Wow!
The lady who invited us over. (Photo credit: Emily Peterson)
Days later we heard stories of moms waking up as early as 4 am to pray for hours everyday for their children to know the Lord. It broke my heart that I was not that broken for the ones I love to know the Lord.
I have continued to see this among believers in Bulgaria and Romania, their only desire and need is for their family to know the Lord.Here in Romania we are working with a lot of young adults from Romania, England, Wales, Ireland, Sweden and America. Many of their family members do not have a relationship with Jesus yes they are full of hope that one-day they will. They continue to pray and believe for their whole family to know the Lord. And they can believe this because they continue to ask the Lord and Jesus tells us to ask and we will receive. And it is His will for everyone to know Him. And we can trust the He hears and He answers our prayers.
So I encourage you to be encouraged as I have been encouraged. Never give up. God is not giving up and we too should never give up.Continue to pray and love those around you who have yet to encounter the love of the Father. And remember there was a time we too had not received grace, but now we have, so now we have grace to give!
