Last year, a boy broke my heart. At first, it was really tempting to harbor a grudge towards him. A few weeks later (after copious amounts of ice cream and peanut butter) I was at church and a girl started talking about her experience praying for someone who had hurt her. I realized that I needed to pray for the boy who had hurt me in order to move on and let go of my lingering resentment. That night, I knelt down and prayed for him. I prayed that he would find joy, and that I would be able to see him through my Heavenly Father’s eyes. After that prayer, I felt more peace than I had felt in weeks. As I continued to pray for him (because if I am being honest, those feelings of anger took a while to go away), it felt as if my heart was stitched back together.
Due to my experience, I am super excited to talk with you all about prayer and family life. Since then, I have used prayer to forgive family members who I believe have wronged me, and also as a way to help family members who are in need. I have seen firsthand the miracles that prayer can bring about. Hence, I’d like to list some of the ways prayer can help families.
Something from the reading this week that really hit me was the idea that prayer can sanctify a family. Sanctification means making something sacred, so this means that prayer can take the family to a holier plain by inviting the Spirit into the home and the relationship. I have seen that in the relationships of those I love. For example, my dad and step-mom pray for each of their children (step or not) by name each night. This has strengthened their bond with each other AND with us kids. They are also more unified as they parent together.
Prayer can protect the family from the influences that might tear it apart. Alma 37:37 says “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good.” As he “directs us for good”, he can help us avoid temptations that destroy the family, like pornography or infidelity.
Prayer can heal wounds from contention and anger. Just as I was able to forgive after praying, couples can better love the other person when they pray for each other. In addition, as they pray together and come before God as a couple, they can grow closer to God and to each other.
Family prayer helps children develop a personal relationship with God. For example, as I participated in family prayer as a child each day, I could see God answering our prayers. At one point, I remember praying for an extended family member who was ill and had to have surgery. He healed from the surgery, and I remember thinking that God had answered our prayer. Even as a young child, I could understand the purpose of prayer. As I grew older, I learned to apply that gift in my own life.
Prayer can help families endure through hard trials. At this point in my life, I don’t think I would survive without prayer. I am SO grateful that my parents taught me about the importance of approaching God in faith and humility because prayer has gotten me through the most difficult times. Sometimes, the prayers that have meant the most aren’t the prayers I have offered. They are the prayers that my mom, or grandma, or dad, have offered in my behalf. For instance, when I broke my hip, I felt buoyed up by the faith of my family.
If you have not prayed for a long time, need direction or peace, or simply want to know if God is really there, I challenge you to kneel and pray. He is there. He loves you. He loves each member of your family. He is aware of everything you are facing. I promise that He will help you if you only ask.
Family Matters 