A couple of weeks ago our pastor encouraged us as a congregation to keep praying for the breakthroughs we were asking God for. It reminded me of something I had written in my book, Embracing Hope During Infertility. Here is an excerpt from the book: 

I prayed. Family and friends were praying for me. I prayed some more. Then I got tired of praying. “Did you just say that you got tired of praying?” Yes, I clearly remember one Sunday evening when I was about twenty-five. I went to a neighboring town to hear a visiting pastor who would be ministering at a church service. I was with my friend Sarah that night, and she turned to me at the end of the service and said, “I’m going to go ask him to pray for me to find a husband. Do you want to come and have him pray for you too?” I was quite fed up with my singleness at this point, so my cynical response as I stayed in my chair was, “No thanks. If God hasn’t heard me by now, what’s another prayer going to matter?” I didn’t ask for prayer that night.

In the book I described the realization I had several years later:

That summer I had a significant moment in prayer. One night at the church prayer meeting we paired up with someone nearby to pray for each other. In one of these moments, I thought to myself, I wish I could just ask this woman to pray for me to find a husband! I didn’t feel comfortable presenting such a request to a random woman at church, but the thought lingered with me for a few days. That week I thought about my self-consciousness in sharing that request, and I remembered Sarah who went forward at an altar call with that very same prayer request. Hmm, I thought to myself, she confidently asked God for a husband, and I refused because I was tired of praying about it. Now she’s married… and I’m not.

That experience was a lesson learned: Never stop praying. Pray varieties of prayers. Welcome prayers from others. We have prayed for our future babies to come. Our parents and family members ask God regularly on our behalf. Friends pray for us. I have been prayed for in small groups. I’ve been prayed for at the hair salon. Pastors near and far have prayed. I’ve gone forward at altar calls at church. I’ve cried when I’ve prayed and I’ve prayed emotionless prayers. I have asked God for a baby in every way that I know how. I’ve commanded my womb in Jesus’ name. I’ve rebuked the devil who steals, kills, and destroys. I’ve prayed while running, while in bed, and while going about my day. Four and a half years ago we discovered that we weren’t getting pregnant as quickly as anticipated, and the prayers have steadily gone up to Heaven ever since.

I’m tired.

I know that even when we DO give up on praying, God is faithful, and He doesn’t forget our prayers. (Read my thoughts on that here.)

But I’ve learned that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

And I’ve learned to not become weary in doing good because if I do not give up we will reap a harvest in due time. (Galatians 6:9)

Like the persistent widow described in Luke 18, I plan to keep knocking on the door of Heaven until He answers. Whatever you’re asking God for, don’t give up. 

Keep praying.