He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 
Luke 22:41-44

---

A force multiplier is a factor or combination of factors that empowers a person or a group of people to accomplish more, and more effectively than without it. Prayer is our force multiplier, which is why Jesus needed prayer the night before his execution and throughout the day of his crucifixion.

The darkest, most hopeless moments in my life have been when I chose to stop talking with God, whether for a couple hours or for weeks. On the other hand, in the darkest, most hopeless, painful, crushing periods in my life, prayer was what kept me alive in both body and spirit. 

Talking with God has helped me to be courageous when there seemed to be little to no hope. One time, several years ago, I was being sued unjustly. At the time, I did not have enough money for an attorney and because it wasn’t a criminal case, I wasn’t given a public defender. I was scared. I knew I was innocent, but I also knew that the other person was out to get me. I prayed earnestly as I took the train to the Cook County Circuit Court building in Chicago. I continued praying as I walked toward the court building. 

Finally, as I neared the court building, God gave me a sign that He was with me and it strengthened me, gave me courage. But I still had to face my accuser, their attorney, and the judge that the accuser’s attorney had chosen to present the case to. It was my den of lions…but then the judge ruled in my favor! God saved me that day from what would have been a crippling judgment. Prayer with God will always be a force multiplier for me. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

Next Steps

Spend time in the Book of Psalms. There are many good prayers and reflections there that will bless you. Two of my favorites are Psalms 34 and 27.