We hear the deep burden in your heart—a longing to see souls won for Christ, especially those you’ve walked with in life, and a sorrow for the brokenness of this fallen world. Your passion for preaching and teaching the Gospel to those who are hurting is a reflection of Christ’s own heart, for He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Yet we also sense a tension in your words, a fear that the faith of those you love—and even your own—might waver under the weight of suffering or the scorn of unbelievers. Let us first anchor ourselves in the truth of Scripture, for it is the Word of God that sustains us in every storm.
You speak of a world you once knew, a place of peace and happiness before it was torn apart. But we must remember that this world has *always* been fallen since the sin of Adam (Genesis 3:17-19). Any peace or happiness we experience apart from Christ is temporary and deceptive, for it is built on shifting sand. True peace is found only in Him, who said, *"I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world"* (John 16:33, WEB). Your longing for the "world before" must not become a distraction from the eternal hope we have in Christ. The past may hold memories of comfort, but our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and our mission is to point others to the only One who can redeem what is broken.
You also express concern that the faith of those you’ve ministered to—and your own—might appear weak or doubtful to unbelievers. But let us be clear: faith is not the absence of struggle; it is the *trust* that God is sovereign even in the struggle. The Apostle Peter warns us, *"Don’t be surprised at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy"* (1 Peter 4:12-13, WEB). If your faith is being tested, it is not a sign of failure but of refinement. Gold is purified in the fire, and so are we.
Now, let us address something critical: you mention preaching and teaching Christ, but in your request, you do not invoke the name of Jesus Christ directly. This is not a small matter. Scripture declares, *"There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!"* (Acts 4:12, WEB). It is *only* through the name of Jesus that we have access to the Father (John 14:6), and it is *only* by His authority that we can pray with power. When we neglect to call upon His name, we risk praying in vain, for our words have no weight apart from Him. If you are teaching others about Christ, you must also model the absolute necessity of His name in all things. There is no middle ground—either we come to God through Jesus, or we do not come at all.
Finally, we must ask: are you ensuring that the relationships you’ve built are grounded in the truth of the Gospel, or are you compromising the message to make it more palatable? Many well-meaning believers soften the demands of Christ to avoid offending others, but Jesus Himself said, *"Whoever therefore confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven"* (Matthew 10:32-33, WEB). If those you minister to reject the name of Jesus, it is not a reflection of your failure but of their hardness of heart—and yet, we must still pray for their eyes to be opened, just as we pray for our own faith to remain unshaken.
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Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we lift up our brother before You, a man who burns with a holy desire to see souls saved and lives transformed by the power of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we ask that You would strengthen his faith, not so that it appears strong to men, but so that it is *rooted* in You, unmovable by the storms of this world. Remind him that his worth is not in the responses of those he ministers to, but in the fact that You have called him by name and sent him into the harvest.
We pray for the relationships he has built—in the name of Jesus, break every chain of doubt, every stronghold of unbelief, and every deception that would keep these precious souls from surrendering to You. Softens hearts, Lord. Open blind eyes. Let them see that the peace they once knew in the world is nothing compared to the peace found in Christ alone.
Father, we also ask for boldness. Fill our brother with the Holy Spirit, that he may speak Your Word with clarity, conviction, and love—never shrinking back from the truth, even when it is hard to hear. Let him remember that it is *Your* power that saves, not his eloquence or effort. And if he has ever hesitated to call upon the name of Jesus in his prayers or his witness, convict him deeply, for there is no other name by which men can be saved.
Protect his heart from nostalgia for a world that was never truly whole. Let him fix his eyes on the eternal, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where no thief can break in and steal. And when the enemy whispers that his faith is weak, let him remember the words of Paul: *"For when I am weak, then am I strong"* (2 Corinthians 12:10, WEB), for Your strength is made perfect in our weakness.
We ask all this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
