We always want to make an impact and here’s one of our stories. During our outreach in a village, we ran various children’s programs, visited elderly residents, and participated in a range of other activities. One afternoon, while working with a newly planted church, we were sent out to visit new believers. Our small group of three arrived at our first stop, where an elderly lady was waiting for us. I was immediately struck by the simplicity and poverty of her home. The wooden walls were weathered, there was no running water, and not even a single chair for us to sit on. So we stood as we asked how we could pray for her. Her request was unexpected.
The old lady shared that she hadn’t seen or heard from her son in three years. He had disappeared one day, leaving her with no explanation, no calls, and no way to reach him. She feared the worst, worrying about his safety and well-being. Her anguish was palpable. We knew there was nothing practical we could do except pray—pray that God would protect him and somehow reconnect them. As we left her house, I couldn’t help but wonder if our prayers would truly make a difference.
Just a few days later, the pastor from the church contacted us with astonishing news. The elderly lady was overjoyed and wanted to thank us for our visit. Amazingly, on the very same day we had prayed with her, her son called home for the first time in three years. He told her he was alive and well. Her relief was immeasurable, and she could finally breathe freely again. Even more, her son shared plans to return home and see her after all this time.
This experience was a powerful reminder of the scripture, “You do not have because you do not ask.” Prayer changes things. Even when we doubt, even when the situation feels impossible, God moves in ways beyond our comprehension.
