Prayer for the Muslim world: People scarred by suffering
By a SEND Diaspora | North America worker —
“I am old. I am broken. I am worthless, and I am stupid,” she said. I looked at her as she spoke those words, and the tiredness of her body and the weariness of her soul were etched deep into her weathered face.
My heart broke for her and for the thousands of Muslim women like her in this world. This mother of six was at the most 40, but she looked at least 65. Thirty years of war in her country, personal suffering and loss had aged her greatly. With her husband dead and uncertainty lurking around every corner, she faithfully worked hard to try to provide for her children what she knew she could not have for herself—hope and a future.
We had heard about this needy family and had come to their house to see how we could help. We were met at the door and politely invited in by the woman’s 18-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son. They served us fruit and said their mother was out shopping, but was expected to return at any moment. They had no car, so she had to walk 40 minutes to the closest store with her eldest daughter, age 20. After shopping, they had to walk back carrying all the groceries they had managed to buy with the money they had. I glanced out the window at our vehicle parked on the street and felt a twinge of guilt, realizing how easily I took simple things like having a car for granted.
The mother returned as promised and came into the room, greeted us and sat down wearily on the floor. She was polite but obviously tired from her trip to the store, so I quickly mentioned that we were there to meet her family and to see if there were any small ways in which we could help them. She asked for no help for herself, but asked if we could help her children with lessons.
When I said we wanted to help her, too, that’s when she replied, “I am old. I am broken. I am worthless, and I could never benefit from any lessons, as I am stupid.” When she said “broken,” I knew she meant her health was bad, but I could also see that she had been beaten down by the world emotionally and spiritually.
I mentioned a few ways we might be able to help and said that we would be back to see them again, and she half smiled and said thank you. Then I asked if I could pray for her and her family before we left. She seemed a bit surprised, but quickly said yes. So I prayed and asked for God to bring healing to all of us and to show us the way of truth and to give us the strength to live in his light and truth. I heard her say “Amen,” and I continued praying, knowing that she was not trying to close my prayer, but rather was agreeing with me.
I prayed for God to show me my sins and to forgive me for my sins. And this time I heard her and her children say “Amen.” I prayed for God to show this family their sins and to forgive them their sins. “Amen” echoed around the room. I prayed for his blessing for all of us, and especially for her family and their home, and I again heard an “Amen” from each one. When I finished praying, I looked up and saw smiles of appreciation on their faces.
As we drove home, I thought of all the other things I could and should have prayed for; I am thankful for God’s grace. I am challenged to pray for each of the things that mother said about herself, and I am asking God to prove her wrong by revealing to her that he loves and cherishes her and her children.
Is there a Muslim family in your neighborhood that needs you to stop in and ask how they are doing? Is there a Muslim family in your neighborhood that needs you to stop in and pray for them?
May God give us courage to respond to the leading of his Holy Spirit and his direction and grace for each step we take for his honor and glory.
My heart broke for her and for the thousands of Muslim women like her in this world. This mother of six was at the most 40, but she looked at least 65. Thirty years of war in her country, personal suffering and loss had aged her greatly. With her husband dead and uncertainty lurking around every corner, she faithfully worked hard to try to provide for her children what she knew she could not have for herself—hope and a future.
We had heard about this needy family and had come to their house to see how we could help. We were met at the door and politely invited in by the woman’s 18-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son. They served us fruit and said their mother was out shopping, but was expected to return at any moment. They had no car, so she had to walk 40 minutes to the closest store with her eldest daughter, age 20. After shopping, they had to walk back carrying all the groceries they had managed to buy with the money they had. I glanced out the window at our vehicle parked on the street and felt a twinge of guilt, realizing how easily I took simple things like having a car for granted.
The mother returned as promised and came into the room, greeted us and sat down wearily on the floor. She was polite but obviously tired from her trip to the store, so I quickly mentioned that we were there to meet her family and to see if there were any small ways in which we could help them. She asked for no help for herself, but asked if we could help her children with lessons.
When I said we wanted to help her, too, that’s when she replied, “I am old. I am broken. I am worthless, and I could never benefit from any lessons, as I am stupid.” When she said “broken,” I knew she meant her health was bad, but I could also see that she had been beaten down by the world emotionally and spiritually.
I mentioned a few ways we might be able to help and said that we would be back to see them again, and she half smiled and said thank you. Then I asked if I could pray for her and her family before we left. She seemed a bit surprised, but quickly said yes. So I prayed and asked for God to bring healing to all of us and to show us the way of truth and to give us the strength to live in his light and truth. I heard her say “Amen,” and I continued praying, knowing that she was not trying to close my prayer, but rather was agreeing with me.
I prayed for God to show me my sins and to forgive me for my sins. And this time I heard her and her children say “Amen.” I prayed for God to show this family their sins and to forgive them their sins. “Amen” echoed around the room. I prayed for his blessing for all of us, and especially for her family and their home, and I again heard an “Amen” from each one. When I finished praying, I looked up and saw smiles of appreciation on their faces.
As we drove home, I thought of all the other things I could and should have prayed for; I am thankful for God’s grace. I am challenged to pray for each of the things that mother said about herself, and I am asking God to prove her wrong by revealing to her that he loves and cherishes her and her children.
Is there a Muslim family in your neighborhood that needs you to stop in and ask how they are doing? Is there a Muslim family in your neighborhood that needs you to stop in and pray for them?
May God give us courage to respond to the leading of his Holy Spirit and his direction and grace for each step we take for his honor and glory.
10/10 Prayer Initiative requests
As part of the 10/10 Prayer Initiative, 180 agencies have come together to ask God to draw to himself 10 percent of the world’s Muslims in the next 10 years. 10/10. Easy to remember, yet such an amazingly big task that only God can do it. SEND International has committed to fast and pray the first Friday of every month. Will you consider joining us?
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Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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