8 Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll—
are they not in your record?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me. Psalm 56:8-9

Down through the ages, the Faithful have gone through periods where they thought they were the only people left in the world who believed. The prophet Elijah comes to mine (1 Kings 19). The Lord showed him quite clearly that there were 7000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal.

I write that because we also go through these periods, though probably not as dramatic. Our doubt and fears may sound a little different:

• Why doesn’t anyone side with me on this issue?
• Why did this person leave me hanging in the wind?
• Why do bad things always happen to the good people?

Our Brothers and Sisters abroad, however, probably face Elijah-like fears at times. When you are being deprived of food, water, sleep, and basic health care, it’s easy to forget that outside the walls there are millions of people who believe like you do.

Would you pray for that pastor who is in prison for his faith? Pray that the Lord will in fact comfort him in his distress and will overwhelm him with His love and care.

Above all, as the pastor is being lied to about who “on the outside” cares about them, pray that the Lord will reveal to him the vast armies of people praying for him at the moment.