He was my most faithful prayer warrior, and I was losing him. As I sat by my father’s bed 10 months ago and said my goodbyes, the words kept repeating in my head: “What will I do without him?” I kept waiting for Dad to open his eyes, give me a hug, and tell us it was time to go home.
But that didn’t happen.
Since losing Dad, I haven’t been able to put into words how deeply I feel his absence. His death was unexpected, and I miss him every day. Sometimes, I will still pick up the phone to send him a text or check on him.
As I sat in my prayer closet today, I had so many questions and thoughts swirling in my head. My heart was lonely for Mom and Dad, and that empty feeling of loss caused me to whisper aloud, “Oh, how I wish they were here to pray with me and for me.” There are days when I feel so lost without their presence here on earth. Holidays can magnify those feelings. As soon as I whispered the words, I could hear God speaking to my heart. I am praying for you, Lisa. He was there with me. What a comfort it was to hear.
Those who know me well know my favorite author is Ann Voskamp. I don’t think it was a coincidence that her devotion was my reading for the day. Someone who is feeling a heavy loneliness, and the palpable pain of grief needs to hear these words today.
“Though you think no one is praying with you, the Ultimate One is praying for you. The One who breathes stars breathes prayers for you. The One whose words spoke 
the world into being uses priceless words over your being. The One who made time, lives beyond time, controls all of time, uses all of His time to pray for you, because you are priceless to Him. Jesus is praying that you’ll be set apart from what threatens to take part of your heart. Jesus is praying that you’ll be brave when you’re about to break, that you’ll turn from what’s tempting, that you’ll stand against what’s strangling, that you’ll escape into Him instead of trying to escape in a thousand unfulfilling ways. Hard times don’t need to understand what God’s doing — like they need to know God’s standing with us, that He’s kneeling in prayer for us at all times. Nothing makes you more fiercely brave than knowing Jesus is fiercely praying for you.”
I am praying for my friends today who feel abandoned, lost and alone. Holidays can be difficult for those who are navigating those countless emotions and feelings. You might even question your purpose or feel like it’s time to give up. I pray you feel the arms of Jesus, because they will never let you go. God hears your prayers and your deep soul cries and His hand will find yours. He will carry you through this.
Don’t give up.
Deuteronomy 31:8
lisabain.com
Lisa Bain Ministries