Who Do You Yearn For?

When Shawn and his family moved across the street from us, it wasn’t long before I learned two things: Shawn didn’t care much for religion and God gave me a burden for Shawn.

I regularly prayed for my neighbors, but for some reason I found myself praying especially for Shawn…earnestly for Shawn.

When we connected as neighbors and I mentioned anything spiritual, I got a figurative stiff arm from Shawn letting me know he wasn’t interested.  Rather than giving up on my resistant friend, the Lord intensified my burden for him.  I found myself praying for Shawn and his family at unusual and unexpected times—waking up in the night praying for him, on a flight at 30,000 feet, in my quiet times.  I didn’t just pray for Shawn, I yearned for Shawn to come to Christ.

Outwardly, nothing appeared to change.  Time passed. I kept praying.

One day Shawn told me that he and his wife were getting a divorce.  I ached for the pain his family was experiencing.  I prayed even more for him.  The pain opened doors for conversation as I asked what I could do to help.  He thanked me when I said I was praying for him.

Another woman came into Shawn’s life, and she was spiritually curious. In spite of himself, Shawn listened in and engaged as Leann and I talked while we watched a basketball game at his house.

More conversations…more yearning in prayer…and one night Shirley and I helped Shawn and Leann come to Christ in their living room.  I performed their wedding not long after.  They are following Jesus.  Eight years of yearning prayer was worth it!

Yearning.  It’s a powerful word.  It’s powerful in the spiritual realm where battles are waged with eternal consequences. When we stand before God on behalf of the soul of another, it’s a sacred assignment. Tears leave evidence of our hunger for that person to know Jesus.  Taking risks to serve, listen, care, ask and invite flow from that yearning.

What if we all yearned for our “Shawns”?  God can…does…the impossible in redeeming lives.  And…we get to help!

Coach Yourself Forward 

1. As you read my story about yearning for Shawn, what stood out to you?  Why?

2. Have you ever had an experience like this?  Describe it.  Who were you yearning for?  What did you do?  What has happened so far?

3. Who is your Shawn right now?  If you don’t have one, ask God for a burning heart for lost people…and a special assignment for someone to yearn for.

Photo by Samuel Martins on Unsplash