Praying in a Prison Cell
In 2017 and 2018, a man named Andrew Brunson was in the headlines a lot because he had been arrested in Turkey. The Turkish president was really trying to use him as a bargaining tool with Trump and America. He was a pastor and a missionary over there, but he was falsely accused of all sorts of things and spent two years in prison.
He later wrote a great book called God’s Hostage, from which I want to share some thoughts over the next two weeks. Go and get the book, though. As always, these devotions I do on the biographies I read are just snapshots that I hope will be helpful and inspiring to you—but if you really want to be blessed, go and buy the book God’s Hostage.
Holding On in Darkness
Placed in a high-security prison with no books, no Bible, nothing—alone in a cell—Brunson writes on page 94:
“I found the cleanest of the duty sheets, pillows, and blankets and prepared a bed. I was physically exhausted after no sleep the previous night and the horrible day, but I paced the room. Even though I felt betrayed by God, I knew I had no choice but to look to Him and try to hold on. My prayers were short, simple, and repetitive. I could only say again and again, Jesus, help me.”
Now, maybe you're not sitting in a Turkish prison at this point, but maybe you're also struggling with something in your life. I wonder if saying short, simple prayers like this throughout your day might have a great impact on the way your day goes.
Maybe you do feel betrayed and hurt, but I hope that you will draw near to God and say, “Jesus, help me. Jesus, help me,” all throughout the day.
Faith in the Struggle
Towards the end of the book, after many desperate months in prison, Brunson prayed this on page 230:
“Lord, if You are not yet finished with what You want to accomplish by me being imprisoned, then give me strength, courage, and endurance to be faithful to the end. I am afraid. Oh God, let me go—but if not, help me to be faithful.”
That’s also a great prayer to pray. “Lord, if You can, break me free from the situation—and if that’s Your will, then do it. But if not, help me to be faithful where I am.”
Keep Praying
So friends, whatever difficulties you are in today, I hope that you will pray. Maybe it’s going to be short prayers—“Jesus, help me”—over and over again today. Or maybe you’ll be able to have the faith to say to God, “If You’re going to keep me in this difficult situation, help me to be faithful.”
Whatever it is, pray. Pray, and God is going to help you wherever you are—just like He did for Andrew Brunson in prison.
