COMING SOON: THE JOURNEY IS ALMOST COMPLETE
When Prayer Seems So Difficult—Pray Anyway
Something has changed since our first announcement.
At that time, When Prayer Seems So Difficult—Pray Anyway was still taking shape.
The road stretched ahead of us.
There were chapters yet to write.
Conversations yet to have.
Questions yet to explore.
And although we knew where we wanted to take the reader, we didn't yet know everything we would discover along the way.
Now...
we've traveled the road.
Twelve chapters have been completed.
The weary traveler has walked through questions, silence, waiting, disappointment, honesty, forgiveness, faith, uncertainty, and those moments when prayer becomes so difficult that even finding the next word can seem impossible.
We've rested beside the road.
We've unpacked some heavy backpacks.
We've laughed.
We've remembered.
We've cried.
We've waited.
And somewhere along the journey, something happened that I don't think we could have planned when the first page was written.
The traveler began to walk without us.
And that's exactly what we hoped would happen.
THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT MAKING THE READER NEED US
From the beginning, there was something we wanted to avoid.
We did not want to become the reader's answer.
We didn't want someone to finish this book thinking:
"I need James Langston to help me pray."
No.
I'm a poor substitute for the One you really need.
The Father.
So as the chapters progressed, the conversation deliberately began to change.
Early in the journey, we stayed close.
We explained.
Encouraged.
Reassured.
Stopped when the traveler needed to stop.
Sat when they needed to sit.
But eventually...
we began talking less.
Not because we stopped caring.
Because they were growing.
Prayer was becoming less about knowing the right words and more about knowing where to go.
To the Father.
Again.
And again.
And again.
YOU'VE GOT WINGS
There comes a time when genuine care has to loosen its grip.
A parent eventually lets go of the bicycle.
A teacher eventually puts down the chalk.
And sooner or later, the little bird standing at the edge of the nest has to discover:
You've got wings.
That became part of the latter journey of this book.
The reader who once needed someone beside them saying,
"Come on. We'll take the next step together,"
eventually reaches a place where we can say:
"You know the way."
Not because every question has been answered.
Not because prayer will never become difficult again.
Not because they will never stumble.
But because now, when they stumble...
they know where home is.
THE FATHER WAS ALWAYS THE DESTINATION
That may be the greatest discovery of the entire writing process.
At first glance, this is a book about prayer.
And certainly, prayer fills its pages.
But somewhere along the road, we realized:
Prayer was the road.
The Father was the destination.
The purpose was never to create people who could pray more impressively.
It was never about producing better religious vocabulary.
It wasn't about giving the reader a formula for getting everything they ask God for.
It was about relationship.
Knowing Him.
Trusting Him.
Talking to Him.
Waiting with Him.
Being honest with Him.
Returning to Him.
And eventually realizing:
"I don't have to understand everything in order to stay close to the Father."
That's when the journey began to feel different.
WHEN THE ANSWER ISN'T WHAT YOU EXPECTED
One of the most important conversations in the completed manuscript asks what happens when God's answer isn't the one we wanted.
Sometimes the answer is:
Yes.
Sometimes:
No.
Sometimes:
Wait.
And sometimes God does something we never considered.
Those are easy words to write.
They're considerably harder to live.
What happens when you've prayed sincerely...
believed...
waited...
and the door still closes?
What happens when the healing doesn't come as expected?
When the relationship isn't restored?
When the opportunity disappears?
When God seems silent?
This book doesn't offer cheap answers.
We don't tell the hurting person to smile and pretend disappointment doesn't hurt.
We sit beside them.
Because faith isn't pretending that a no feels like a yes.
Sometimes faith says:
"Father, this hurts."
And then, perhaps after a while:
"But I still trust You."
That's prayer too.
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY
Eventually we reached another important discovery:
Sometimes there simply aren't words.
And that's okay.
You don't have to fill every moment with religious language.
You don't have to impress Heaven.
You don't have to construct a beautiful paragraph before God will listen.
Sometimes prayer begins and ends with:
"Father..."
Sometimes tears pray.
Sometimes silence prays.
Sometimes sitting quietly in God's presence is all the strength you have left.
The Father understands.
One of the great lessons of this journey has been wonderfully simple:
You can come to God before you know what to say.
THE WAGON MASTER GOT QUIETER
Those who eventually read the book will become acquainted with a few traveling companions and pictures along the way.
One of them is the Wagon Master.
He knows the trail.
Early in the journey, the weary traveler needs to keep checking:
"Is he still there?"
"Are we still going the right way?"
"What happens around the next bend?"
But something changes with experience.
The Wagon Master doesn't disappear.
The traveler simply becomes more accustomed to following.
Eventually, there doesn't need to be an instruction at every turn.
A nod is enough.
That's growth.
And that's where we wanted the reader to arrive.
Not independent of the Father.
Dependent upon Him without being frightened by that dependence.
AND THEN WE BROUGHT THEM HOME
The final chapter is titled simply:
Pray Anyway
There comes a point when you've said enough.
Another explanation won't necessarily help.
Another illustration may simply delay the moment that has to come.
So eventually...
we stop walking.
The traveler continues.
Not alone.
Never alone.
With the Father.
And perhaps that's the moment the entire book has been preparing them for.
We cared enough to walk beside them.
Now we must care enough to let them go.
Because if someday they forget the author's name...
that's okay.
If they forget an illustration...
that's okay too.
If they cannot remember which chapter said what...
we'll survive.
Smile.
But if, on the worst night of their life, something within them still knows enough to whisper:
"Father, I need You..."
then every page was worth writing.
WE'RE NOW PACKING THE TRAVELER'S BAG
With the twelve chapters completed, we're now working through the final portions of the book.
And we're not loading the traveler down again.
We've learned better than that.
Smile.
Instead, the book includes practical resources they can return to long after the main journey is over:
Thirty Promises for Those Who Pray — biblical truths to hold onto when feelings and circumstances become uncertain.
Conversations With the Father — simple starting places for those moments when you need help beginning the conversation.
Meet Me Here — a quick-reference guide for finding the part of the journey you may need again.
A Note to the Person Helping Someone Else — because eventually the weary traveler may become the person sitting beside someone else.
And finally...
One Final Invitation.
For the person who has traveled all these miles hearing us talk about the Father but has never personally come to Him through Jesus Christ.
We couldn't leave that traveler standing outside the door.
SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED ALONG THE WAY
The book became considerably more personal than originally envisioned.
Not autobiographical.
Personal.
There's a difference.
Memories surfaced.
Lessons from decades ago suddenly found their place.
Experiences from military service, ministry, family, and more than five decades of walking with God helped illuminate truths that had been sitting there all along.
And sometimes...
we laughed.
Yes.
In a book about difficult prayer.
Because weary people don't need us to make the road heavier than it already is.
There is room for tears.
There is also room for a smile.
Sometimes both arrive on the same page.
That's life.
And that's the conversation we wanted this book to sound like.
THE SECOND NOTICE
So consider this our second knock on the door.
The first time, we told you:
Something is coming.
This time, we're telling you:
We're almost home.
The major journey has been completed.
The manuscript is now entering its final stages of review, preparation, and finishing work before publication.
And we're taking our time.
This book has received too much care to become careless simply because the finish line is visible.
There will be no rush merely to say:
"It's published."
We'll finish the journey the same way we traveled it.
Carefully.
Prayerfully.
And with the weary traveler in mind.
COMING SOON
When Prayer Seems So Difficult—Pray Anyway
For the Weary Traveler Who Still Wants to Find the Way Home
Perhaps you're doing well today.
Wonderful.
Keep praying.
Perhaps you're waiting.
Keep praying.
Perhaps God answered differently than you hoped.
Keep talking to Him.
Perhaps you're disappointed.
Tell Him.
Perhaps you've wandered.
Come home.
Perhaps you don't know what to say.
Start with:
"Father..."
And perhaps you've become so tired that you're wondering whether you have enough strength left to continue.
Then don't worry about tomorrow's mile.
Take this one.
The Father isn't asking you to impress Him.
He's inviting you to come.
And when this book finally reaches your hands, that's where we're going together.
Not toward James Langston.
Not toward Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International.
Not toward a new formula for prayer.
Toward the Father.
The road is still open.
The porch light is still burning.
And the conversation isn't over.
We're almost there.
Until then...
pray anyway.
Pilgrim Outreach Ministries International — Your Feet to the Nations
CONNECT • SHARE • HELP SOMEONE FIND THE WAY HOME
If you know someone who has struggled with prayer, unanswered questions, waiting, disappointment, or simply finding the words to talk with God, share this announcement with them.
Someone in your circle may be the weary traveler this book was written to reach.
Relevant @Mentions:
@YouVersion @BibleGateway @BibleProject @Crosswalkcom @Christianitycom @CBNNews @700club @TBN @Daystar @KLOVEradio @Air1Radio @SalemMediaGrp @ChristianPost @CTmagazine @OutreachMag @Relevant @FaithGateway @OurDailyBread @InTouchMin @DavidJeremiah @BillyGraham @BGEA @SamaritansPurse @FocusFamily @FamilyLifeToday @DesiringGod @Ligonier @MoodyRadio @Moody_Bible @BibleLeague @AmericanBible @WorldVisionUSA @Compassion @OperationBlessing @YouTube
Hashtags:
#WhenPrayerSeemsSoDifficult #PrayAnyway #ComingSoon #NewBook #ChristianBooks #ChristianAuthor #ChristianReading #ChristianLiving #ChristianEncouragement #ChristianInspiration #ChristianFaith #Faith #Prayer #PrayerWorks #PrayerChangesThings #PowerOfPrayer #Praying #PrayWithoutCeasing #FaithInGod #TrustGod #TrustGodsTiming #GodIsListening #GodHearsYou #GodAnswersPrayer #GodIsFaithful #GodIsGood #GodCares #GodsGrace #Grace #Hope #HopeInChrist #JesusChrist #JesusSaves #Bible #Scripture #WordOfGod #BiblicalTruth #SpiritualGrowth #GrowingInFaith #WalkByFaith #FaithOverFear #KeepTheFaith #DontGiveUp #Perseverance #WaitingOnGod #UnansweredPrayer #TrustTheProcess #Healing #Grief #Encouragement #MentalHealthSupport #YouAreNotAlone #WearyTraveler #ComeHome #ReturnToGod #RelationshipWithGod #KnowingGod #FatherGod #GodsLove #ChristianMinistry #Ministry #Pastors #Church #Missions #Missionary #Evangelism #Discipleship #Gospel #GreatCommission #ChristianCommunity #PrayerWarriors #IntercessoryPrayer #DailyPrayer #DailyDevotional #Devotional #BibleStudy #InspirationalBooks #BooksThatInspire #BooksWithPurpose #FaithBooks #ChristianBookRelease #UpcomingBook #BookAnnouncement #BookComingSoon #MustRead #ReadersOfFaith #PilgrimOutreachMinistries #YourFeetToTheNations
Comments
Post a Comment