Persistence in prayer: when do I stop?

[guadalupe_fire]

Hi guys,

I would appreciate people’s opinion on my persevering in prayer with a certain aspect of my life. I have brought it before God every day for a long time, implored many saints, prayed numerous novenas, and dedicated the situation to Mary. The obstacles that have occurred during this time (making what I’m praying for next to impossible) are frustrating.

Now, I know the story that Jesus told, about the widow who kept asking the judge for what she wanted, and finally he gave it to her just because she was persistent. At the same time, shouldn’t I consider that God is giving me a message by inhibiting my circumstances?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[fred_conty]

…inhibiting my circumstances?

???

 

[Kmon23]

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by inhibiting circumstance, but if you are asking about whether you should stop prayer and see the obstacles as a sign from God to stop persevering in your prayers, then I disagree. Prayer is always something a person should do. To be honest, obstacles that obstruct your prayer of something should only be a sign to pray even harder, as times of difficulty really tests our faiths and ability to still pursue Christ.

Unless however the topic of prayer is for something ultimately selfish, against God or “not good” in general. However, I assume that you know what is good and bad based on your own conscience, and what you are praying for is nothing bad at all. In that case, just refer to my first paragraph.

However, feel free to correct me if I misunderstood the OP.

 

[fhansen]

Hi guys,

I would appreciate people’s opinion on my persevering in prayer with a certain aspect of my life. I have brought it before God every day for a long time, implored many saints, prayed numerous novenas, and dedicated the situation to Mary. The obstacles that have occurred during this time (making what I’m praying for next to impossible) are frustrating.

Now, I know the story that Jesus told, about the widow who kept asking the judge for what she wanted, and finally he gave it to her just because she was persistent. At the same time, shouldn’t I consider that God is giving me a message by inhibiting my circumstances?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Just keep praying-it can never be wrong so long as we’re asking for something right and good.

 

[ClearWater]

Hi guys,

I would appreciate people’s opinion on my persevering in prayer with a certain aspect of my life. I have brought it before God every day for a long time, implored many saints, prayed numerous novenas, and dedicated the situation to Mary. The obstacles that have occurred during this time (making what I’m praying for next to impossible) are frustrating.

Now, I know the story that Jesus told, about the widow who kept asking the judge for what she wanted, and finally he gave it to her just because she was persistent. At the same time, shouldn’t I consider that God is giving me a message by inhibiting my circumstances?

Thanks for your thoughts.

I think St. Monica prayed something like 30 years for her son, Augustine, who was very wayward and then some. Eventually, her prayers were answered, and Augustine became a saint in his own right.

Also, recall St. Rita of Cascia, who is one of the patron saints of lost causes, and all that she went through.

Although, I guess it depends on what we’re praying for.

There are times when what we want isn’t God’s will. The difficulty is in trying to discern which is which.

 

[tawny]

Hi guys,

I would appreciate people’s opinion on my persevering in prayer with a certain aspect of my life. I have brought it before God every day for a long time, implored many saints, prayed numerous novenas, and dedicated the situation to Mary. The obstacles that have occurred during this time (making what I’m praying for next to impossible) are frustrating.

Now, I know the story that Jesus told, about the widow who kept asking the judge for what she wanted, and finally he gave it to her just because she was persistent. At the same time, shouldn’t I consider that God is giving me a message by inhibiting my circumstances?

Thanks for your thoughts.

One should never stop praying. Prayer is a powerful intercessor.

 

[TiggerS]

You probably need spiritual direction. Not unusual when in consolation to set oneself a hefty prayer schedule and keep to it - then in times of dryness and struggle to find the hefty schedule a real burden and temptations come along to give prayer up altogether. Or it might be that you are trying to persevere in a type/method of prayer that needs to change. Or it might be something else altogether.

It would take spiritual direction to sort out where you are and how to continue. But never ever give up prayer altogether.

At the same time, shouldn’t I consider that God is giving me a message by inhibiting my circumstances?

I would advise that you do not consider that God is giving you any sort of message unless you discuss it with a spiritual director.
If you are unable to locate a spiritual director, you could make an appointment to speak to your parish priest. One can always speak to Father in Confession, but sometimes he doesn’t have the time available in the Confessional.

Means of contacting a spiritual director

1. 
   *]Phone your diocesan offices as they usually know
   *]Contact an Order of priests, religious or nuns. They might not be able to help you themselves, but may know a point of contact that might be helpful in finding one.
   *]Pray for a good spiritual director daily. This doesn’t mean of necessity that one has to pray a certain length of time, rather that one turns one’s heart and mind to God and ask humbly in your own words for a good director.