I went to her home one evening to have dinner with friends, and we spent the evening catching up. 

Four women – all of us moms, wives, women of God – with a simple desire to connect with other women.

We thought we were there for a light-hearted evening, but God had other plans.

Everything changed when one of the four dared to get honest. 

Among trusted friends, she knew she could be real. 

And then another piped in.  “I’ve felt that too.”

As had I.

The evening was sweet, as four women began to share openly.

And God was at work.

In the days that followed, I felt God tugging at my heart. 

“This friend needs you.”

I felt him calling me to pray with her.  To stand with her arm in arm, and band together to take her needs to Jesus.

So I sent a simple text, asking her if she would consider praying with me. 

And if she would consider a weekly appointment.  Just a simple phone call, where we could share our hearts, and go to God together.

I’d done this with others before and seen amazing results. 

Her response was a resounding YES, as she clearly desired another to come alongside her.

At the time, I didn’t know how very much I needed her.  I thought I was acting in obedience to God by reaching out to a struggling friend.

But, oh, how our sweet Jesus knows what we really need.

We started meeting weekly over the phone. 

We would talk about our week, share the ups and downs, and as our trust grew, we began telling each other things we didn’t share openly with other people. 

Each week, we would make a prayer list together – a list of her needs, and a list of mine.

And then, after sharing what God had done in us that week, we would each pray over the other’s list.

It didn’t take long before we began to see God’s hand at work in each of our lives.

Not surprising, because:

Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.   – Matt 18:20

And when God is with you, things are bound to happen.

It didn’t matter that we weren’t gathering in the same room.  We were still gathering.  Joining our hearts and prayers together, and trusting God, not just for our own concerns, but for the concerns of the other.

So, dear reader, here is where I want to challenge you a little and encourage you a lot. 

Let’s start with this truth:

We weren’t made to carry our burdens solo. 

That is why God nudged me to pray with my friend.

God made us to be in community with him, and he made us to be in community with each other.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.   – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Friend, don’t go it alone.

If you have a spouse you can pray with, that’s a good place to start.  

BUT. . .

I would highly encourage you to also find a friend that you can meet with, especially if you are walking through a difficult season.

Why?  Because whatever your season, your spouse is in the trenches with you. 

When you are going through it, they are impacted also.  This is when it is helpful to have someone with fresh eyes and a heart that isn’t laden with the burdens you carry.

Someone who can encourage you and speak life to your soul.  And by someone, I mean another sister in Christ.

Gathering with another can be done in a variety of ways:  meeting in a home or at a park, phone calls, Zoom calls, or even through a video chat app, like Marco Polo. 

Now I would like to address that one question you are probably thinking right now:  

How do I find that praying friend?  

Below are a few possibilities.

Begin by asking God. 

Make a list of women. Ask him to direct you to the right one. 

Keep in mind that your person doesn’t have to live anywhere near you. 

With phones and modern technology, your praying person could be someone who lives far, far away.

And if you want to find a local friend but coming up with a name is difficult, don’t despair.

Here are some ideas for meeting new people or building stronger connections with women you already know:

• Join a Group – A small group, a women’s Bible study, a local prayer group, or even a Celebrate Recovery program (where you can stand with others to work out your hurts, habits, and hangups).  In any of these groups, you can begin to forge connections with other women you can be real with. 
• Ask a friend to coffee.  Then during your visit, if you feel it appropriate, share something in your life that you are working through, and see if she will do the same.  If she shares openly, offer to pray for her this week, and then let her know later via text that you haven’t forgotten her need.  This is a good start to building a connection, and you will find yourself blessed as you pray for the needs of another.
• Start a breakfast club for women that meets twice or more each month.  Invite women who are willing to come consistently, and ask them if they would be open to sharing prayer requests and answers to prayer at the end of each gathering.  You may find your praying person among them.
• Begin a group text with a trusted group of women.  There, you can lift your needs to each other and text prayers, encouragement, and scriptures back and forth.  I have one such group that has been invaluable to me, and deep connections have grown there.  This might be especially good for you if praying aloud with others feels intimidating, or if your schedule makes regular meetings with someone difficult.

I hope you are seeing possibilities as you read this.  And that you are already envisioning yourself as a praying friend to someone else.

Because praying regularly with another person is a powerful faith builder in the life of a believer.

Especially when you begin to see changes as a result.

And sometimes it is a life jacket for you when you feel your ship is sinking.

Maybe it’s time to take that bold step.

Whatever you do, don’t let fear hold you back. 

Find that praying friend.  Approach God arm in arm together.

And watch what God will do.