When the Sky Falls In: Crisis Intercession for Missionaries

By Bill Commons

Have you experienced crisis in your personal life? Remember your struggle, your despair, your sense of cosmic loneliness, and you will know how to pray for missionaries.

We all live in a broken world. Nothing is as it ought to be. Everything tends to go wrong. The alienation sin wrought between us and God, our self and others, continues to infect everything.

The same is true for your missionaries, only more so for them—since they usually serve in the darkest places, surrounded by degradation and desperation that tries to pull them down and distract them from a close walk with God. Today their world may seem to be unraveling; it may feel like the sky is falling in.

Most missionaries experience intense crisis—whether spiritually, mentally, or physically—often affecting all three. Profound heartache and confusion may be impairing the missionaries for whom you pray today—in their marriage, family, ministry or inner life. It may be so painful they cannot even talk about it, especially to folk “back home.”

After all, aren't missionaries supposed to be “spiritual giants,” triumphant in everything? If you only knew how vulnerable they are, no matter how strong or spiritual they appear to be.

Yes, God's grace is ultimately triumphant as your missionaries storm the “gates of hell” in the name of Christ. But the battle is never easy. The enemy knows our weaknesses and is ruthless in his assault. There are setbacks in the struggle, casualties among the troops. We do lose skirmishes in the process of winning the war.

So, faithful intercessors need to learn warfare praying. With humble, broken hearts before God, cry out to Him for His weary, struggling servants. Understanding the storms of life, claim the power of the Resurrection on behalf of wounded soldiers on the front lines. Pray the Scriptures, joining Paul by asking Christ to strengthen His ambassadors "with might through His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16b).

Remember also to pray for the missionary's personal purity, inner crises of faith, a forgiving spirit in the inevitable interpersonal conflicts that arise, and victory over personal temptations.

Were you hoping for a formula? I offer none. God responds to a broken heart, earnestness and sincerity, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and spiritual insight gained from your own crises.

Remember that there are no great men of God, only little men (and women) who have a great God. So pray that your missionary will let God be God in his life and ministry, no matter what.

Back to Top	Respond to this Article Email Article to a Friend Print this Article