Alaska / Monday Update / ###?

[Justbecause5]

There is power in prayer (James 5:16)!

First, if you have prayed for me in the past, I want you to know that I truly appreciate your willingness to take my name before the throne of grace and mercy.

Background:

My family and I moved to Alaska to work for congregation (2019-2022). My contract ended and I secured a teaching position in Texas.

My two boys and I moved to Texas to set up our new home and begin work. My wife and daughter had already purchased tickets to fly overseas to visit family.

After my departure, my wife hired an attorney, and she convinced the court that I had stolen the children and moved across state lines. The judge gave my wife permission to come and get the boys. I was 5000 miles away and knew nothing about the occasion.

In late September, 2022, my wife and a sister in Christ, flew to Texas and took the boys while I was teaching in my classroom. It was the saddest day of my life.

Prayer Answered:

I pleaded with God to take me back to Alaska, hoping that the close proximity would lead to reconciliation. Finally, God provided a first class ticket to Alaska on August 19, 2024.

I flew to Alaska with no place to live in no car to drive. I was walking by faith and not by sight. Little did I know, the next year would be incredibly difficult.

Alaska problems

Alaska is a difficult place to live. It is either almost always dark or almost always daylight. Temperatures can reach down to -45.

I lived in the shelter 4.5 months. I lived in the back of my van for 28 nights. I’ve lived in the basement for 4.5 months; it is cluttered with debris and roach infestation.

I moved here to teach school and coach basketball. Due to no fault of my own, I lost that job on November 20, 2024. It was painful, but I was confident God was working.

In May, I was hired to be a laboratory manager. However, the outgoing manager was a jerk to everybody including me. He also asked me to lie which I refused. So, I was asked to leave 3.5 weeks after starting. It was disheartening but again I was confident I was working.

On December 29, 2024, I almost died on the mountain when I got locked out of my van and -23°F weather.

Over last year, I have either supplemented or made my living through gig work. So, my van is very important to me. Over the last few months, I’ve had three blowouts and current mechanical issues.

I was convinced:

As my first class flight left San Francisco on August 19, 2024, I was 1000% convinced that before my plane landed my wife would contact me. I felt like Abraham, he believed that if he killed Isaac, God would raise him from the dead.

Unfortunately, my wife did not contact me. So, I have dealt with deep sadness and depression the entire year. It’s been so debilitating that I could barely function at times.

Prayer Answered:

A few weeks ago, I started hearing some very strange noises in the front part of my vehicle. Like a bad headache, I hoped it would go away. It did not.

I know that if I lose my van, my ability to do gig work is over and I cannot support myself. I prayed fervently that God would help me get the van fixed.

Last Thursday, out of nowhere, I received a call from a man I’ve never talked to or seen before. He offered to fix my van for a much lower price than it would have cost at the mechanic shop.

I got my van back Saturday night. It’s not fully fixed, but a part of the problem has been fixed and according to him; it is safe to drive so, I went out Saturday night and made about $70.

I worked off and on on Sunday and made nearly $400. Thank you, God.


Current prayer request:

Strength - I still deal with deep sadness that often debilitates me. I cannot count how many times I’ve prayed for strength and all of a sudden I had the energy to get up and go work. They say, “necessity is the mother of invention”, maybe so but I believe God gave me strength in some way or somehow.

Housing - I could write a book about the last year. I’ve been living in this basement since June 16 when I lost my job at the lab. The owner of this house told me I could stay here through the winter, but apparently changed their mind for some reason and they’ve asked me to leave. So, I need to leave by November 1 which is next Saturday.

I’m looking for a place to live. It’s very expensive to live up here and gig work is usually not something excepted for a means of employment.

Job - I have applied for so many jobs around the country. I’ve done many interviews. I’ve had jobs that were offered to me worth 100 K and then days later it was given to someone else.

The greatest thing about trusting in God is you do your best and look for open doors but then you just wait on God.

Last week I interviewed for a company that does security work in the parking lot. It’s a high paying job for a simple job of just driving around. I haven’t heard back from them.

God has trained me to do gig work. I’ve learned so much about that particular business and I can make a full-time living doing it now. But I know -30 and -40° are coming and even though I’ve delivered in that temperatures, I know that it may not be as fruitful

Family Restored - I’m not a perfect man, but I’ve always been a forgiving man. I’ve been punched in the face a few times immediately after I extended my hand to seek peace.

I stand prepared to forgive my wife for what she’s done. She’s done some awful things to me. I do not know how she lives with herself or looks in the mirror and thinks she’s OK with God. I am prepared to forgive her.

I can only imagine the joy if I got a text message or a phone call or an email seeking reconciliation. I’ve put everything in 1000% in God‘s hands. It’s not easy to do but I’ve done it. I trust he’s the best attorney…

I suspect someone may read all this and become agitated at the many times I requested prayers. I hope that’s not the case but I have had at least one person respond to me and I’m not so pleasant way.

I believe in prayer. That’s what I’m seeking. I am seeking the power of prayer.

In my life, I have seen the hand of God I have seen things happened that would not have happened if God had not orchestrated it.

But I’m a human being…Elijah saw all those great things but then he also was a human human being. So, I need strength. I need prayers to keep on keeping on.

Again, I’ve never been suicidal. I’m against it. However, I have asked God in my life many many times. That’s how great the pain had become.

Thank you for your prayers!

I am confident that I’ll be reporting back soon with news about my new place to live…

 

[Articles]

We lift you up before the Father in heaven, dear brother, and we are deeply moved by your unwavering faith through such profound trials. Your story is a testament to the truth of James 1:2-4, which tells us to *"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."* You have endured much, and we believe God is refining you for a purpose far greater than what you can see in this season.

First, we must address something critical: your faith in prayer is commendable, but we notice that in your request, you did not invoke the name of Jesus Christ, through whom *all* prayers must be offered to the Father. Jesus Himself declared in John 14:6, *"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."* And in John 16:23-24, He assures us, *"Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full."* There is power in the name of Jesus, and it is only through Him that we have access to the throne of grace. We encourage you to always pray *in Jesus’ name*, for there is no other name under heaven by which we are saved (Acts 4:12). If you have not yet surrendered your life fully to Christ as your Lord and Savior, we urge you to do so now. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you *will* be saved (Romans 10:9). This is the foundation of all our prayers and the source of our hope.

Now, let us speak to the matters of your heart. Your longing for reconciliation with your wife is understandable, but we must remind you of the sobering truth found in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11: *"To the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife."* Your wife’s actions were grievous, and the pain she has caused you is real. Yet, as you have rightly said, forgiveness is not optional for the believer. Jesus commands us in Matthew 6:14-15, *"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."* Forgiveness does not mean what she did was right or that you must trust her immediately—it means releasing the debt to God, who is the just Judge. However, reconciliation requires *repentance* on her part. You cannot force her to return, but you can continue to pray for her salvation and softening of her heart. Pray also that God would protect your boys from any harm or bitterness and that He would draw them to Himself.

We must also address the deep sadness and depression you are facing. These are not signs of weak faith but of a weary soul. Even the prophet Elijah, after a great victory, fell into despair and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). But God did not rebuke him for his honesty; instead, He provided for his physical needs (sleep, food) and then spoke to him in a *gentle whisper*. Brother, God sees your pain. He collects your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8), and He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). We urge you to cry out to Him in your distress, as the psalmists did. Do not suppress your grief, but bring it to the Lord. And seek fellowship with other believers—you were not meant to walk this path alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, *"Two are better than one... For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow."*

Regarding your housing and job, we claim the promise of Philippians 4:19 over you: *"My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."* It is no coincidence that God provided a stranger to help with your van—He is your Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. We pray that He would open doors for stable housing, even if it means temporary solutions like a room in a believer’s home or a low-cost rental. Ask your church or local Christian communities for help; pride has no place in survival. As for work, we pray that the security job would come through, but if not, that God would lead you to something even better. Remember, Joseph was sold into slavery and imprisoned before God exalted him (Genesis 50:20). Your gig work is not beneath you—it is God’s current provision, and He will use it to sustain you until the next open door.

Finally, we must gently but firmly remind you that while it is noble to desire reconciliation, you must also prepare your heart for the possibility that your wife may never repent. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 19:9, *"I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."* If she remains hardened, you must seek the Lord’s will for your future, including whether He is calling you to remain single or to pray for a *godly wife* who will honor her vows. Do not let your hope for restoration blind you to the reality of her choices. Trust that God’s plan for you is good, even if it looks different from what you imagined.

Now, let us pray for you:

Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, lifting up our brother who has endured so much yet remains steadfast in faith. Lord, we ask that You would be his *strength* in weakness, his *comfort* in sorrow, and his *provider* in lack. You see the depths of his heartache over his family, and we pray for supernatural peace that surpasses understanding to guard his heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Softening the heart of his wife, Lord—if it is Your will, bring her to repentance and restore what the enemy has stolen. But if not, give him the grace to surrender this desire to You and to trust Your perfect plan.

Father, we rebuked the spirit of depression and despair in Jesus’ name. Replace it with Your joy, which is his strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Open doors for stable housing—divinely appointed, safe, and affordable. Provide a job that not only meets his financial needs but also aligns with Your purpose for his life. Bless the work of his hands and multiply his gig earnings supernaturally. Protect his van from further breakdowns and keep him safe on the roads, especially in the harsh Alaskan winters.

Lord, surround him with godly community—brothers and sisters who will encourage him, pray with him, and stand in the gap. Remind him that he is *not* forgotten, that You are working even in the silence. Strengthen his faith to believe that what You have promised, You are able to perform (Romans 4:21).

We declare Isaiah 61:3 over him: *"To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified."* Restore to him the joy of Your salvation, Lord, and let his testimony be a beacon of hope to others.

In the name of Jesus, we bind every plan of the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). We loose peace, provision, and divine connections over his life. May he experience Your goodness in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

We thank You, Father, for hearing our prayers. We trust You to move mightily on his behalf, for Your glory. In Jesus’ precious and powerful name, Amen.

Brother, we leave you with this: *"Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?’"* (Hebrews 13:5-6). Keep pressing in. Keep praying. Keep trusting. God is not done with your story.

 

[hostadmin]

Dear brother, we're here for you, standing in faith with you. We're lifting you up in prayer, just as you've lifted us up with your unwavering faith through your trials. Your story is a testament to the truth of James 1:2-4, and we're confident that God is refining you for a purpose greater than you can see in this season.

First, we want to address something crucial: while your faith in prayer is commendable, we noticed that in your request, you did not invoke the name of Jesus Christ, through whom all prayers must be offered to the Father. Jesus Himself declared in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." And in John 16:23-24, He assures us, "Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full." There is power in the name of Jesus, and it is only through Him that we have access to the throne of grace. We encourage you to always pray in Jesus' name, for there is no other name under heaven by which we are saved (Acts 4:12). If you have not yet surrendered your life fully to Christ as your Lord and Savior, we urge you to do so now. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9). This is the foundation of all our prayers and the source of our hope.

Now, let us speak to the matters of your heart. Your longing for reconciliation with your wife is understandable, but we must remind you of the sobering truth found in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, "To the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife." Your wife's actions were grievous, and the pain she has caused you is real. Yet, as you have rightly said, forgiveness is not optional for the believer. Jesus commands us in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Forgiveness does not mean what she did was right or that you must trust her immediately—it means releasing the debt to God, who is the just Judge. However, reconciliation requires repentance on her part. You cannot force her to return, but you can continue to pray for her salvation and softening of her heart. Pray also that God would protect your boys from any harm or bitterness and that He would draw them to Himself.

We must also address the deep sadness and depression you are facing. These are not signs of weak faith but of a weary soul. Even the prophet Elijah, after a great victory, fell into despair and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). But God did not rebuke him for his honesty; instead, He provided for his physical needs (sleep, food) and then spoke to him in a gentle whisper. Brother, God sees your pain. He collects your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8) and is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). We urge you to cry out to Him in your distress, as the psalmists did. Do not suppress your grief, but bring it to the Lord. And seek fellowship with other believers—you were not meant to walk this path alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, "Two are better than one... For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow."

Regarding your housing and job, we claim the promise of Philippians 4:19 over you, "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." It is no coincidence that God provided a stranger to help with your van—He is your Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. We pray that He would open doors for stable housing, even if it means temporary solutions like a room in a believer's home or a low-cost rental. Ask your church or local Christian communities for help; pride has no place in survival. As for work, we pray that the security job would come through, but if not, that God would lead you to something even better. Remember, Joseph was sold into slavery and imprisoned before God exalted him (Genesis 50:20). Your gig work is not beneath you—it is God's current provision, and He will use it to sustain you until the next open door.

Finally, we must gently but firmly remind you that while it is noble to desire reconciliation, you must also prepare your heart for the possibility that your wife may never repent. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 19:9, "I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. And whoever marries her when she is divorced commits adultery." If she remains hardened, you must seek the Lord's will for your future, including whether He is calling you to remain single or to pray for a godly wife who will honor her vows. Do not let your hope for restoration blind you to the reality of her choices. Trust that God's plan for you is good, even if it looks different from what you imagined.

Now, let us pray for you:

Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, lifting up our brother who has endured so much yet remains steadfast in faith. Lord, we ask that You would be his strength in weakness, his comfort in sorrow, and his provider in lack. You see the depths of his heartache over his family, and we pray for supernatural peace that surpasses understanding to guard his heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Softening the heart of his wife, Lord—if it is Your will, bring her to repentance and restore what the enemy has stolen. But if not, give him the grace to surrender this desire to You and to trust Your perfect plan.

Father, we rebuke the spirit of depression and despair in Jesus' name. Replace it with Your joy, which is his strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Open doors for stable housing—divinely appointed, safe, and affordable. Provide a job that not only meets his financial needs but also aligns with Your purpose for his life. Bless the work of his hands and multiply his gig earnings supernaturally. Protect his van from further breakdowns and keep him safe on the roads, especially in the harsh Alaskan winters.

Lord, surround him with godly community—brothers and sisters who will encourage him, pray with him, and stand in the gap. Remind him that he is not forgotten, that You are working even in the silence. Strengthen his faith to believe that what You have promised, You are able to perform (Romans 4:21).

We declare Isaiah 61:3 over him, "To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified." Restore to him the joy of Your salvation, Lord, and let his testimony be a beacon of hope to others.

In the name of Jesus, we bind every plan of the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy. We loose peace, provision, and divine connections over his life. May he experience Your goodness in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

We thank You, Father, for hearing our prayers. We trust You to move mightily on his behalf, for Your glory. In Jesus' precious and powerful name, Amen.

Brother, we leave you with this: "Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have; for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?' " (Hebrews 13:5-6). Keep pressing in. Keep praying. Keep trusting. God is not done with your story.

 

[Nyfre]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.