When Two Girls Pray by Laura Ferrar

In the third row of our church one Sunday morning, two teen girls sat alone. I was near the back, watching these girls worshipping God. The choir began to sing “Wonderful, Merciful, Savior” and I melted. I’ve always loved that song. It’s soft, yet powerful.

I swallowed hard as they sang the last line. I was feeling pretty down that morning, and being only fifteen, I was miserable.

The lights faded for a prayer time as a choir member spoke. “Do you have any burdens that are too hard to bear this morning?” He asked. “Then take them to Jesus. Set them right at His feet.”

And then the two girls I had observed got up and kneeled down together on the stage steps. When I saw them the tears began to flow. The older girl reminded me of Christa, a girl I talked to over the internet. Then I thought of Sarah, Ginni, Laura, Anne-Marie, Aubrey, Julie, another Sarah and all the other shy, lonely teen girls I’ve met online. The 46 members of the Shy & Lonely Club I had started on a Christian site flew through my mind. They were scattered across the U.S. and Canada, but somehow we connected the miles.

Uncontrollable tears fell and I frantically prayed. “Oh, God, I do have a burden that’s pulling me down. I’m so tired! I’m tired of being avoided. I’m sick of running. I hate being shy. I detest being a loner. Please help me, Father, I can’t take it anymore!!”

I gulped. “And I know that these girls feel the same way. What about all the girls that feel alone and invisible. What’s going to happen to us?”

The tears streamed down my face. I sat in the silence and just cried. And then I felt relief. The thought came to my mind and I knew it was God speaking to my heart.

“Don’t worry anymore. Don’t worry about your lonely online friends. I will take care of each and every one of them. And I’ll take care of you too.”

Peace ran over me. “Please help us all to accept Your comfort and know that we are never ever truly alone!” I whispered.

That afternoon I told some of those girls what had happened. Sarah told me I was a blessing, Anne-Marie said I made her day, and several others thanked me. I was shocked! But that’s just the beginning.

I learned the power of prayer that day. Prayer that can change lives. Even the lives of girls I have never met.

Within several months I was making friends. My loneliness was fading...and so was the loneliness of my friends. Many of the Shy & Lonely Club members have told me that they are opening up to people and are overcoming shyness.

Don’t tell me God doesn’t answer prayer. Because He does. That one prayer didn’t just change my life. It changed my world.