Praying for Someone Without Seeing Results

Keep praying, maybe include prayer that someone enters his life as a witness and testimony. He may have to totally crash though before he comes to Jesus. We have known many people that that's what it took. Heck I was pretty close to that point myself when I did it in 1979.

I have people on my prayer list dating back to 2014, not all for salvation but some are..
Ya know to the secular world Jesus is getting to be just a story, with so much technology going on it takes real life incidents to get them to want to try Jesus on. Otherwise there is fix for anything out there, just dig up a youtube video on it and run with it.

Messerve said:

Hello!

I'm been feeling kind of discouraged lately regarding a friend of mine. I've been praying for him for a few years to know Jesus and I really love him like a brother. But I feel like I've seen very little change. He's actually busier than before, has less time for me than he used to, is a workaholic (or a slave... I'm not sure which!), and is being drawn into dirty sexual pastimes by his girlfriend. He seems depressed a lot more than a couple years ago when I first met him, too. He used to be like a ray of light walking into the room compared to everyone else, but now he seems angry and frustrated and tired all the time.

Anyway, I've been praying for him from the very beginning, and to see him actually in a worse place now than before... I'm not sure what to think about it. I hardly seem him in person anymore, either, though I've kept in touch as much as I can.

I fear that my friend will die suddenly and never know Jesus. I'm not sure I'd know how to deal with that at this point...

Right now I feel like my thousands of prayers for him are just disappearing into thin air. For those of you who have prayed for someone for years and they still don't know Jesus and still seem imprisoned by the world, where do you find hope?

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You are actually sowing seeds of prayer into that person's life. There are those who sow the seeds and there are others who reap the harvest. You can be assured that God hears your prayer because the Word says that the eyes of God are on the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers. You can hold on to that promise. I use that promise when I need to persevere in prayer for my loved ones who need Christ. It may be that there may be someone coming after you who will be successful in leading your friend to Christ, and your friend's openness to the gospel may be the result of your persevering prayers for him.

I want to encourage you to keep praying for your friend. I prayed for my parents' salvation for over 25 years before they were saved. My mom was saved right before she died. The Lord doesn't want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:8-9 says, "Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance."

Messerve said:

Hello!

I'm been feeling kind of discouraged lately regarding a friend of mine. I've been praying for him for a few years to know Jesus and I really love him like a brother. But I feel like I've seen very little change. He's actually busier than before, has less time for me than he used to, is a workaholic (or a slave... I'm not sure which!), and is being drawn into dirty sexual pastimes by his girlfriend. He seems depressed a lot more than a couple years ago when I first met him, too. He used to be like a ray of light walking into the room compared to everyone else, but now he seems angry and frustrated and tired all the time.

Anyway, I've been praying for him from the very beginning, and to see him actually in a worse place now than before... I'm not sure what to think about it. I hardly seem him in person anymore, either, though I've kept in touch as much as I can.

I fear that my friend will die suddenly and never know Jesus. I'm not sure I'd know how to deal with that at this point...

Right now I feel like my thousands of prayers for him are just disappearing into thin air. For those of you who have prayed for someone for years and they still don't know Jesus and still seem imprisoned by the world, where do you find hope?

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What about writing him a letter? It is not often easy to find time to talk, or to make sure to mention Christ in conversation. Maybe a letter would help? Tell your friend what you've told us!

Messerve said:

I did! And I asked him which mailbox is his, since there are three together. He balked and wouldn't say, so I never got my letter delivered.

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Do you have his e-mail?

Messerve said:

Hello!

I'm been feeling kind of discouraged lately regarding a friend of mine. I've been praying for him for a few years to know Jesus and I really love him like a brother. But I feel like I've seen very little change. He's actually busier than before, has less time for me than he used to, is a workaholic (or a slave... I'm not sure which!), and is being drawn into dirty sexual pastimes by his girlfriend. He seems depressed a lot more than a couple years ago when I first met him, too. He used to be like a ray of light walking into the room compared to everyone else, but now he seems angry and frustrated and tired all the time.

Anyway, I've been praying for him from the very beginning, and to see him actually in a worse place now than before... I'm not sure what to think about it. I hardly seem him in person anymore, either, though I've kept in touch as much as I can.

I fear that my friend will die suddenly and never know Jesus. I'm not sure I'd know how to deal with that at this point...

Right now I feel like my thousands of prayers for him are just disappearing into thin air. For those of you who have prayed for someone for years and they still don't know Jesus and still seem imprisoned by the world, where do you find hope?

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My opinion is that God may have a different plan of action or a different unexpected ay to answer.

For example...i had to go through many dark years to get to where i am now. In the storm i prayed to get out. I may not be happy He didnt pull me out...but i wouldnt be where i am with a passion for Him without being dragged tooth and nail through tribulations.

Messerve said:

He seemed hesitant to share that, too, the one time it came up. He seems to actively not let people into his personal life many times, and I feel very special that I've been inside his home on more than one occasion.

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In that case, my friend, praying for him might be the best option. Like folks have said, ask God to bring someone into his life to help lead him to Christ. That person may or may not be you; your role in all this may just be to be a good, kind, patient friend, and pray.

Messerve said:

It's true. I would like my friend to come to Jesus in a period of peace and happiness. It would be a lot easier on him that way, right? But that may very well not be possible.

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God is with us through the storm. He many times He thrusts us into the hurricane to build perseverance which is necessary for a powerful Christian walk.

praying

Messerve said:

Thank you for sharing this. I would love to be the one there with him when he finds Jesus, but I understand it could happen through someone else. Right now I'm not sure who it would be since he seems to have fairly limited contact with others, but then I never knew he existed until we crossed paths either... The fact that we met and became friends was really God's doing, because the likelihood was very small in retrospect.

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There is the story that Charles Spurgeon told about a faithful old man who had been a believer all his life, but his two sons were confirmed sinners. When the old man died, he lost his assurance right at the end and he had a very difficult death, which can sometimes happen, not because of a lack of faith, but that the devil can attack with doubts and fears right at that point when death is imminent. After the funeral service, the coffin was carried out followed by his two sons. One son said to another, "You know, our father was a faithful Christian all his life and look at the difficult death he had. We are both total unbelievers. What kind of death will we have?" They became convicted of the Holy Spirit and accepted Christ.

Sometimes we spend years praying for a lost soul and see no results, and then something happens which brings conviction and a decision for Christ; and it can happen right out of the blue. A preacher can be praying for the lost souls in his church and preach 100 gospel sermons, seeking to get converts for Christ. Then, the voice of the Holy Spirit speaks through the 101st sermon, and all the unconverted present turn to Christ. Yet, the 101st sermon may not be any different or seemingly more powerful than the previous 100!

God's ways are not our ways, and God's times are not our times.

Messerve said:

I know this may be what it takes and I can see certain scenarios potentially forming already that may cause that. Losing his job for starters... He's super dedicated to his work and it practically is his life, but the place he works is struggling to stay open. That's partially why he's putting in longer and longer hours.

I hate to see a friend crash, though. It would break my heart to see it happen to him, but you're probably right.

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The original pastor who formed the church organization my wife and I belong to used to say " never give up". It's clear to me from all your posts in this thread that God has placed you where you are in this guys life. Just simple prayer means a lot. If you can get in a piece of the gospel message here and there or a testimony it might get his mind working though. Just consider yourself as helping prepare him for that day. Ultimately if you can get in the gospel message so he hears it, then the Holy spirit can work. Faith comes by hearing.

Father we pray that this friend of the OP receives ears to hear with and eyes to see with, to hear and see glimpses of spiritual matters and one day turns to your Son Jesus Christ. Give Messerve your long suffering nature to be a present and gentle force in his friends life. Amen

We have seen unbelievable things happen, people come to Christ who most people would just shake their heads and say no way that person would ever do that. You would be surprised. And lives are changed and that the person is changed is the sign isn't it ? There must be change.