Friend of a prodigal, come sit with me.
How is your prayer life? Are you weary of repeating the same longings for your loved one? Do your words feel rote, your pleas lifeless? Has the roller coaster of prayer left you in a valley where shadows of unbelief and hopelessness threaten to overtake you? Does the lostness of your loved one stir sorrow so deep it escapes through groans and bitter tears?
Friend, you are not alone.
Come, let’s lay our burdens down at Jesus’ feet. Together, let us find fresh encouragement not just to persevere in prayer, but to rest in the shadow of his wing.
A Lesson from 2 Chronicles 20
In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat faced a terrifying threat: a vast army was advancing against them. He knew they didn’t have the manpower to stand against such a force. What did Jehoshaphat do? He gathered all the people at the temple in Jerusalem and cried out to the Lord: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (2 Chronicles 20:12).
In response, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, who declared, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s… Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf” (2 Chronicles 20:15–17).
The next morning, Jehoshaphat appointed not soldiers, but singers to go before the army dressed in holy attire, singing praises to God. And when they began to worship, God acted. He set an ambush among their enemies, causing them to turn on one another until they were utterly destroyed.
What Does This Teach Us about Prayer?
What does this ancient battle have to do with our prayers for prodigals? Everything.
It teaches us where our focus must be. It’s easy to fix our eyes on the impossible circumstances—the rebellion, the addiction, the distance, the heartache. But when our eyes are on the problem, fear and doubt creep in. The enemy uses these to cloud our view of God, to make us forget who he is.
Jehoshaphat began his prayer by remembering God’s character:
“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you” (2 Chronicles 20:6).
We start with who God is: sovereign, powerful, faithful, and unchanging.
Remembering His Faithfulness
Jehoshaphat doesn’t stop with God’s character. He recounts God’s past faithfulness, going all the way back to Abraham. He’s rehearsing a holy history, reminding his heart of the God who keeps his promises. We can, and should, do the same.
Remember the Bible’s story of rescue—how God pursued Adam and Eve, delivered the Israelites, transformed the disciples, and grafted in the Gentiles. And remember your story. He has rescued you. He has been faithful in your life.
Let that truth fuel your faith. Let it shape your prayers. Let it turn your groans into praise.
Praise is Warfare
What strikes me most about this passage is that God used praise as a weapon. As the people of Judah worshiped, the battle shifted.
Satan wants us trapped in discouragement, disbelief, and despair. But when we respond with worship, declaring who God is even in our pain, we resist the enemy’s schemes and align ourselves with the truth.
When despair rises, name it. Confess it to God. Share it with a trusted friend. Bring it into the light where God’s truth can speak life over you. The battle belongs to God, but we still have a part to play: standing firm. That means we don’t give up. And when we feel ourselves slipping, we cry out for help from the Lord and his people.
An Even Better King
Despite being a generally righteous king, Jehoshaphat had his flaws. At times, he wavered, forming alliances with those who opposed God’s ways and making choices that led to trouble. His faith was genuine, but imperfect. His leadership was good, but limited.
But we have an even better King. A perfect King. One who never compromises truth, never wavers in loyalty to his Father, and is trustworthy.
Be encouraged: this King does not rule from a distance. He draws near to the brokenhearted. He walks with the weary. He listens to every groan and every whispered prayer. He is the One who never sleeps, who never grows weary of your voice, and who always intercedes on your behalf. His name is Jesus.
Let his Word uphold you. Let his love meet your every need. Let his cross remind you that no one is beyond his reach, not even your prodigal. He is mighty to save. He is faithful to finish what he started. He is worthy of your praise, even in the waiting.
So friend, keep your eyes on him. Keep praying. Keep praising. And rest, knowing the battle belongs to the Lord.
