My Prayers don't work!

What do we do in our lives when we are confronted with people that are frustrating to deal with?

We have some of these people in our lives. They make poor decision after poor decision. They have taken many wrong turns and now are far from God. They live in a land of self indulgence and substance abuse. They do not take good advice from people who have succeeded in the way that they want to and then complain about their situation. I continue to forgive them as God has forgiven me.

However, I still find them frustrating. I know that as a christian person, I should be kind, patient, forgiving and accepting of all people. But I find it hard with these people.

My husband's approach is to accept these people as they are - 'Each to their own' he says.

So I tried.

Then I started to pray for them. I prayed that they might grow up and take responsibility for themselves. I prayed that they would stop their substance abuse. I prayed that they might gain inner strength and the drive to succeed. I prayed that they would find God and gain some inner peace. I prayed that they might conceive a child and be spurred into being responsible through this gift from God. I prayed for these and many other things. Nothing changed.

So I asked my husband. 'What should I do? I have prayed and prayed for these people and nothing has changed. My prayers are not working'. His answer was simple and I was grateful for his wisdom. "Pray for yourself. Pray for God to give you the strength to deal with them.'

Simple - Pray for yourself. You can't change some people no matter how much you try. If they have turned from God's way and refuse to let his light shine through them There is not much you can do. You can continue to pray for them, but also pray for yourself. Pray that God will give you strength. I am sure he knows you need it, otherwise you would not ask.