When I chose our Ellen’s Picks book, Praying Women by Sheila Walsh for this season, I had no idea that the world was, basically, going to blow up. I promise.

Timely though, right?

Funny enough, the first thing that this book in this season (combined with my very convincing AWESOME coach, Gillian) convinced me to do was to ask for prayer. I’ve long felt guilt over asking for prayer for our business and for our family. It felt legitimate to do so when I was a missionary, but owning a business? Doesn’t seem like the spot for a prayer meeting, does it?

It actually does, though. In case you aren’t familiar with it, I lead a faith-focused social enterprise clearly developed and positioned not for my family to grow wealthy but for Kingdom good. My family, with our own unique circumstances and challenges, was on the frontlines of this without a team behind us to support us, praying for us, knowing what was really going on. Not very smart, right? Friend, I know better.

The team I get to lead was facing unprecedented times – even before this crisis. God is allowing us to step into situations and support other organizations, primarily non-profit or charitable organizations, like we’ve never done before. We’re helping them understand who they serve, how they do it, and what God is calling them to be and do. We’re using the tools in our hands, shaped over almost 20 years of doing marketing, branding, strategy and communications work (I legit started REALLY young) to support the church and ministries in strategic ways. We’ve launched The Change Makers Podcast, bringing you closer to leaders and world shapers, who I get to call friends.

And I didn’t feel like I could ask anyone to pray for us. #slowlearner This battle is real and I was in the middle of it trying to do it on my own. I think that might be called pride, friend. Ugh. Humble is one of my core values and I was NOT living it.

Friend, I know prayer changes me, in the midst of my circumstances, even though the circumstance may not change. I’ve seen it impact others so personally – especially when I’m prompted to pray something for a friend and find out later why that prompt came. I’m teaching it to my daughter and I’ve seen it change anxious thoughts and remind me of the promises of God. I needed to remember that God was listening to me too and that even Jesus prayed.

It was time to invite others in and ask them to pray.

So, inspired by Sheila Walsh and my Coach Gillian, the week before #CovidCrisis2020, I invited a small, trusted group of women to pray for me, for our family, for our team, and for the work we do. It still felt awkward – but it was the right thing to do, at the right time, it turns out. Just days later, it felt like our world fell apart but I knew that God had an army of women behind me who had my back.

I think that one of the reasons I’ve not felt like I could ask for prayer was because I’ve struggled to be faithful in praying for others – more like a “hit or miss” prayer friend, than one of those consistent prayer warriors that I’ve so admired. To be honest, it’s in this season that I struggle with being pulled in so many directions – parenting, leading, and all the other pieces of life – that I often fall asleep when I’m praying. Fortunately, our dear brother of old, Peter, couldn’t even stay awake to pray when Jesus was right there with Him… I guess I’m in good company, at least!

Sheila Walsh helped me overcome this guilt. Telling me that I’m okay to start where I am or when I don’t know what to pray. She’s helped me see the value of being a praying woman in whatever season I’m in. Praying Women has been equipping me, prodding me, has been a gift for in this season, friend.

There is also a free study available online as well if you’re looking for a way to feel less isolated and more connected right now. If you’re looking for hope and wanting to know how to reach out – why not start by connecting with the One who knows you fully and loves you deeply, right where you are?

That’s what I’m going to try to do, too. Let’s do it together, okay?