9-1-1 Prayers, by Rachel Wojo
Excerpt from Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life’s Darkest
Moments by Rachel Wojo
9-1-1 PRAYERS
When my husband came home without a job, I knew the temptation I faced. Like Hagar, I wanted to run-not from my husband, family, home, or God, but from God’s call on my life to write for Him. Writing is hard work, and contrary to popular belief, it’s not exactly lucrative. For the last two decades, every time our family has faced a financial issue or setback, the enemy whispered, “Just get a real job. Clock in, clock out, get paid, and enjoy the benefits. You won’t have to worry about creating a steady entrepreneurial income or the next book contract. It will be easier.”
But I knew that God had heard me whenever I cried out to Him in the past. He knew about the job loss before I did. Like Hagar in the wilderness, I longed to see Him working through our family’s dilemma. Desperation filled my heart, and I asked the Lord to transform the distress into fuel to pursue Him more deeply. I needed to hear His voice, providing direction and guidance for daily living. I’ll confess that my prayers resembled 9-1-1 prayers.
When you dial those three numbers, you aren’t thinking about how that call will make you feel; you just want help and help now! But the 9-I-I operator who receives your call has a job to do when you dial in. First, she must establish a connection with you and immediately say something like, “I am here with you.” Her job is not to solve the emergency in one sentence; her priority is to establish a connection as she dispatches the proper responder so she can help until the first step of the solution reaches you.
Confirming that we are not alone is central to handling the emergency in a crisis. Dr. Henry Cloud says, “When we are afraid, the first thing that calms the brain down and reduces stress is a feeling of connection which assures us that we are not alone.”
Hagar dialed God’s crisis hotline. And God didn’t give her immediate deliverance. She wasn’t removed from her challenging situation. Instead, the angel told her to return to Sarah, where she would face the same emotions that she had felt before leaving. She would have to deal with her mistress’s jealousy and ill will. Her circumstances didn’t change, but her outlook did because God saw her. Suddenly she was equipped to move forward because she realized that the God who heard and saw her was also with her.
Whatever your emergency, God is your eternal 9-1-1 operator, always by your side. Take your first measure of comfort in that. Then, throughout your crisis, you can rely on His presence as faithful and true.
God sees you. He hears you, and He knows your need. He knew you even before He fashioned your body inside your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). He is with you in your wilderness.
When Hagar wound up in the wilderness for a second time, child in tow, it had to feel like déjà vu. “This again? Really, God?” While the Bible only describes weeping as her response to a second-time wilderness experience, the God who had seen her the first time heard her the second time. And He did the miraculous. He opened her eyes to see water in the wilderness.
When Hagar wound up in the wilderness for a second time, child in tow, it had to feel like déjà vu. “This again? Really, God?» While the Bible only describes weeping as her response to a second-time wilderness experience, the God who had seen her the first time heard her the second time. And He did the miraculous. He opened her eyes to see water in the wilderness.
The water, what she needed to survive, was available all along; she just hadn’t seen it. Did the tears in her eyes block the view of an oasis? Had the sense of being overwhelmed by her circumstances prevented her from seeing the provision God had prepared for her? We don’t know from reading the passage. But I know what happens in my heart and life, and I’m guessing it happens to you, too.
I start to feel like God doesn’t see me because there is distance between us. Maybe I’ve been upset over my circumstances, and my anger has separated me from my Heavenly Father. Or perhaps it wasn’t anger, but discouragement or worry or fear. These emotions can cloud my vision or block my view too. So while He is the God who sees me, I am the one who can’t see Him.
I call this “spiritual separation anxiety.” Like a preschooler, I want to step into the classroom without letting go of my daddy’s leg first. So when He places me in uncomfortable situations that stretch my faith, I grow afraid and wonder where God is.
I forget His promises like, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Fear grabs hold when my feelings and faith collide.
Choosing our responses at those moments is critical. What if we could pause and, like Hagar, remember El-Roi, the One who sees us? What if we asked God to open our eyes wide to get a glimpse of His preparations and provisions for us? Remembering His promise to hear us when we call would refresh our hearts amid crises.
Even when our eyes are closed, God sees us.
Learn more about Rachel here! And enter to win a copy of her book, Desperate Prayers below!
COMMENT in response to one or both of the questions below, AND YOU’LL BE ENTERED TO WIN a COPY OF DESPERATE PRAYERS…
Share a time when you recognized (or looking back now recognize) that God (El Ron) was near you when you most needed Him?
Share something that you’re facing now that you are praying desperately about.
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Praying for my brother who is under-appreciated by his family. Desperately sending prayers that the people he selflessly gives to will wake up and start treating him as he deserves to be treated.
I love this analogy of 9-1-1 prayers, and the reminder to simply pause, remember Gods promises!
My initial response to overwhelm matters & this was really encouraging.
Thank you!
Going through a year of unemployment
I was barely 28 when my 21 yr old sister went to be with the Lord (cancer). I cannot look at that season of my life and dismiss God’s presence. He was right there, giving us strength and an undeniable peace. Others outside of me (and my family) were drawn into our situation because of God. Fast forward 15 years. Once again, I was saying good-bye for now. This time it was my mom (also cancer). My “girls” were gone. But again, God was right there offering peace and comfort the world can never provide. We could see so many ways God was right there in the midst of the storm. In the 18 months that have passed, I have been in awe of God’s provision. He knew what I would need before I did and His provisions showed up before I knew I needed that particular blessing. In the hard, He was always there.
In the now…I have a 13 year old who is being bombarded by the world’s temptations. I am praying hard for his heart as he weathers everything the Devil is throwing his way. Some days are HARD and it’s easy to forget how near God it’s difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel but I am trusting God to hear and answer my prayers over my son’s life.
wow what a powerful comment. Thank you so much for sharing. I am encouraged. And I’m praying for you/your son now!! xo
What a beautiful reminder of God’s promises to never leave or forsake us! Thank you! He said to pick up our cross daily and follow Him. He also promised us that His grace was sufficient.
When my oldest son, Derek, was 4 years old, he had open heart surgery to repair his aortic valve. The surgery went beautifully, and he is now 19 years old and continues to do wonderfully well. He will eventually need to have his aortic valve replaced, but he has far exceeded what his doctors expected. We are very grateful for God’s provision. Derek’s initial recovery was pretty tough though. He struggled with pain as he was not able to keep oral meds down. He ended up with a partial lung collapse and we were in ICU for 5 of 7 days he was hospitalized. I was 30 weeks pregnant with our 3rd child at the time. I was sleeping in the hospital bed with our son. I was physically and emotionally exhausted. My parents were visiting, and I told my mom that I didn’t know if I could do another day like this. It is so hard to see your child suffering and in pain. You just want to take their pain for them. I know that God heard my prayers of desperation and my faithful parents’ prayers as well. Derek had a huge turn around the next day and continued to improve dramatically. We were able to go home within the next couple days. The Lord never gives us more than what we can handle. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Thank you so much for sharing that amazing story. Bless you!!
Sorry, I should’ve spelled checked. I think it auto corrected my text. I meant *avid =God and straight= strength. Thanks 😊
So true that avid is our refuge at any time of need. He has been with me since the lost of my sister in a car accident years back. The pain of this deep loss never goes away but God is sufficient. I have called on Him many times and He has been so faithful. He is our redeemer and straight. To God be the glory.
Oh Karina, I’m so sorry you had to go through this but what a beautiful testimony you have taken from it. (and I’m the queen of typos so no worries!) xo
Thank you for this reminder that our Heavenly Father is as close as our call.
God revealed His nearness to me at a time when I felt completely overwhelmed with a miscarriage. The loss was heavy as we had already walked a long, hard road of trying to conceive. As if out of the woodwork, so many ladies shared their personal
stories of loss and heartache through miscarriage, and like a flood His grace came close. God was tangible, His peace real, and not only near but healing my heart.
Renee, that is so hard and yet so beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
What a great read.
Looking back I can now see God was with me when I lost my teaching job after coming forward with my infidelity. While I was devastated at the time I can now see God was preparing my husband and I for our IVF journey and my change to homeschool our twins.
Amy, thank you for sharing. I love that you can see God’s hand in these difficult things. He is so good!
Prayer request is for upcoming change to family life through a large move. Praying for wisdom and guidance during this time.
Praying for you now Kara!