Moms, Your Prayer Matters

There’s a quiet strength in a praying mother. I’ve witnessed it firsthand for most of my life. My mom isn’t just a good woman or a strong woman—she is a woman wholly and unapologetically devoted to God. I want to share a bit of her story this Mother’s Day, and in doing so, I hope to encourage every mother reading this: your prayers matter more than you may ever know.

My mother was born in Iran into a Muslim family, but she never considered herself a Muslim because she never felt a connection with it, and she disagreed with its values. In 1995, she was introduced to Jesus, and after she made Jesus her Lord and saviour, her life was radically changed.  One thing I immediately noticed was her firm boundaries—boundaries that weren’t made of fear or pride, but conviction. There were places she wouldn’t go, not because she thought she was better than others, but because she had this reverent fear and loyalty to her God. She knew that some environments didn’t honour Him, and she didn’t want to take us to a place where there were influences of alcohol or anything that could have had a negative influence on us. When I was young, I didn’t understand it, others didn’t either, and many people thought she was overreacting and should lighten up a bit. She didn’t care for what others thought of her, and she refused to let anything interfere with her walk with God and influence us (she really guarded her family).

My mom has always been dedicated to prayer since she met a friend from Korea in 1996, who taught her how to pray and be a devoted prayer warrior. She began an unwavering devotion that wasn’t just personal but deeply intercessory. She has prayed relentlessly for me, my brother, and my dad. And I don’t mean just those short, quiet prayers we whisper before bed. I mean the kind of prayers that shake the atmosphere, the kind of prayers that battle through tears, doubt, and discouragement. The kind of prayers that have moved mountains and have rescued me and my brother from the hands of evil.  She didn’t just pray for us but also her extended family. She carried their names before the throne of God over and over again, even when they were far from God, even when it seemed like nothing was changing. She never gave up; she fought for them, and today, by the grace and mercy of God, those very family members she wept and interceded for are followers of Christ.

If you’re a mother reading this, I want to speak directly to your heart. You might have been praying for years, maybe for a child who has walked away from God or you, maybe for a child who doesn’t believe in God, maybe for a child who is dealing with depression, maybe for a child who is battling sickness. Or perhaps you’re a grandmother and you’ve been believing for a miracle for your grandkids, or maybe for strength, to keep going. Let me gently remind you today: God hears, God sees, God is moving—often in ways you can’t yet see. Your commitment to Jesus, your refusal to compromise, and your devotion to truth and righteousness matter—not just for your children but also for their children and generations to come. Remember, your dedication to God and prayer for your seeds is not in vain. My mother prayed for my return to God for many years, and I’m sure in those years, she wondered why things hadn’t shifted yet. She might have asked God, When? or even Why not now? But she never let discouragement turn into doubt. She never allowed unanswered prayers to become bitterness. She kept praying, she kept believing, and she kept trusting Him.

One of the most important things my mother taught me, without ever saying it directly, is that prayer isn’t about controlling God’s timeline. She prayed for over twelve years for my return to God, and twenty-five years later, she is still praying for my brother’s walk with God. She taught me that prayer is about obedience, it’s about surrender, and it’s about trusting that the One who formed the universe knows what He’s doing, even when His timing doesn’t make sense to us. As she was obedient to God and praying, He was surely in His pace working in my life, turning and shifting me from the inside out. So, if you are growing weary in prayer, don’t stop; keep standing in the gap for your children. Like Pastor Brad mentioned, be the “hotspot” for your kids and grandkids. Keep declaring truth over your home and keep placing your family at the feet of Jesus.

You may not see the fruit immediately, but that doesn’t mean the seeds aren’t taking root, that doesn’t mean that God has forgotten about you or your loved ones, that doesn’t mean God is not hearing your prayer, nor that He’s slow. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  I love this verse and how God encourages His people to continue the good work, trust in Him, and know that He’s producing fruit out of the labour one puts in. But remember the harvest will come in His timing, and if we don’t give up. All you must do is know that God, in His mercy and grace, is faithful to bring forth a harvest from the prayers of His people.

My mother’s life is living proof. She didn’t just pray; she lived what she prayed. She didn’t just ask God to work in our lives; she created a home where God was honoured and welcomed. Her consistency in the little things, the quiet faithfulness, the daily obedience, the deep love for God by His mercy has brought me to where I’m today. My mother has been my role model and mentor. Watching her faith, dedication to God, and prayer life has inspired and challenged me to seek a deeper relationship with Him. Her walk with God has dramatically impacted my life, and I want to encourage you to do the same and keep going, because your decisions are impacting your kids. They are either influenced by your constant dedication to God and prayer or your cease to fight for yourself and them. You don’t have to be perfect or have it all together, but you do have to be faithful to God, pray, and be obedient to His voice and timing, even when it doesn’t make sense. God is not looking for perfection but rather for a humble heart that is surrendered and seeks God’s will boldly in prayer. A heart that keeps being obedient even when it doesn’t make sense, and a heart that clings to Jesus because it understands He is the source. If you’re discouraged and tired, lift your eyes and remember His promise in Isaiah 40:30-31:

^30“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ³¹ but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

So, rejoice, lift your eyes to the Lord, and know He has promised to strengthen you to supernaturally rise above your struggles. And just like an eagle that can see broader when high above, trusting God can give you a broader view and a deeper peace. So wholly trust in the Lord and put your hope in Him, keep fighting for your family in the spirit and know that your prayer matters.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms. The world may not always see what you do, but heaven does. And heaven rejoices over every prayer and every moment of surrender.