Perseverance in Prayer?

[TheBoss918]

Hi All,

I hope this this Lenten season is full of blessings for you and your loved ones! I am posting here to ask for your opinions and insights about a prayer “issue” (if you could call it that) that I am having.

I am in the midst of praying a 54 Rosary Novena for a very special intention, but have found myself the last few nights not making a fully sincere prayer. Basically, my intention is something that I have prayed for a lot in the past, and although I’ve always felt God would answer it, He has yet to. Anyhow, when I’ve been praying these last few nights, I am finding it difficult for me to make a faithful peitition. I can’t help but wonder: while I believe God CAN do anything, my prayers with this have not been answered for years, so why would that change now? Am I forever to be trapped like this?

So my question is: how can I find the strength to keep going with this prayer? What I am asking for is good and holy (that I find my marriage partner, and in the meantime that she is blessed and loved), so I don’t think it’s contrary to God’s will. Haha, I know the thought that my time will come eventually, but right now it is so difficult. I feel like Satan is tempting me away from this Novena, hence my doubt, so any insights you might have into my faith and doubts would be very helpful.

Thank you, and God bless!

 

[doanli]

Hang in there, keep praying, when the time is right, she will come.

I didn’t meet my wonderful hubby until I was 32 years old.

When you do pray, ask for patience, and trust in His Will.

God bless.

 

[JFunk]

Oddly enough I’m also in the middle of a similar Rosary Novena, but I would like to second what doanli has said. Patience is really the key to waiting for such a wonderful gift from God and is something I know I’ve had to learn (and am still learning ) myself.

I also find that the Rosary is a great way to feel closer to God and Jesus, but I think that’s the nature of contemplating the mysteries wholeheartedly. Nobody can tell you whether or not God will answer your or anybody’s prayers for a spouse (although we can hope He will). In the meantime I would say continue trying to give your best effort in praying the rosary intentionally and along the way work on making yourself into a holier person. After all, if your holy spouse finally does come along, don’t you want to be the kind of spouse she wants/deserves as well? I know I do

 

[DeniseFath]

So I’m going to go against the grain here a little bit and make a different suggestion: perhaps you should change your intention. NOT that there is anything wrong with your intention! But if focusing on that particular desire is causing you to lose hope and actually distancing you from God, then it’s at least worth considering a change.

I’ve struggled with this issue a lot in the past and found that the more I focused on it and the more I prayed for a husband the more upset and impatient I became. So instead of praying for a husband now, I pray to become the Christian/woman I’ll need to be to make a good wife, or pray for my future spouse, or just pray for the patience to wait! But for me, just shifting the focus away from what I want, and more towards God’s will, helped A LOT.

Now again, what worked for me may not be what’s best for you. But I’ve found the more I pray for God’s will to be done, and the less I pray for my own, the more I am at peace. Hope this helps a little. Will keep you in my prayers! God bless!