James 1:2-3 (MSG) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So, don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way.

This has been a rough week for me.  In addition to being a single parent of three teenage boys (which is hard enough), I have a full time job, I’m shopping for Christmas presents and I had something planned after work every day this week.  I haven’t finished decorating our house for Christmas, I haven’t had time to go grocery shopping and I haven’t cleaned the house in two weeks.  UGH!  But the icing on the cake this week . . . I let my work family down.  I scheduled a new photographer for both of our Client Christmas Luncheons and it was a total flop.  The photographer was unable to get her equipment working at either luncheon and now she is refusing to refund our money.  What a mess.  I felt just awful because we really wanted to have something special for our clients and I failed.  Afterwards, I felt beat down, sad, frustrated and tired.

After work that day I went to a friend’s house for game night.  When I walked in, they could tell the sparkle in my eye was missing.  Before we start playing our game, we always go around the room and ask for prayer requests.  All I had to do is say I had a rough week and the tears started to flow. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.  My friends prayed over me that night three different times.  My spirit was lifted and my sadness disappeared and I was ready to take on a new day.  I still have to deal with the aftermath of the failed photographer, but I know that my community of Christian friends are praying for me.

So that started me thinking . . . Do you have a community of Christ-filled friends?  A “village” of people that want the best for you?  Life is hard and life alone is even harder. When tests and challenges come at you from all sides, I want to pray for you.  I want to be your village.  So, if you would like to be included in my prayers, please let me know.  I will pray for you, neighbor!

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this week.  Thank you for the pressure that forced my faith-life into the open.  I pray that everyone who needs prayer will boldly ask for it. Amen.