The Power of Selfless Prayer

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye' may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” 
— James 5:1,KJV

One Sabbath morning during a cottage meeting in Cebu City, I was quietly sitting on a chair when a woman approached me. She smiled warmly and asked how our missionary work was going and how my fellow missionary and I were adjusting to the place where we were staying. What began as a simple conversation quickly became something much deeper.

We talked about life—where I came from, what inspired me to become a missionary, and what I hoped to do after my mission journey. Then, as she began sharing her own story, I noticed her voice becoming softer. Tears slowly filled her eyes. While holding my hands, she looked at me and quietly said, "Please pray for me."

Her greatest burden was her marriage. She shared that she and her husband had been emotionally distant for a long time. Whenever she came home from work, they barely spoke to each other. Peaceful conversations had become almost impossible, and misunderstandings seemed to happen more often than moments of understanding. Since her husband was not an Adventist, differences in beliefs added even more tension to their relationship. She felt exhausted, heartbroken, and uncertain if things would ever change.

As I listened to her pour out her heart, a sobering realization hit me: she was looking to me for answers. The truth was, I was probably the last person who should have been giving marriage advice. I had no counseling degree, no five-step plan, and no magic fix for a broken home. All I had was a willing heart.

After listening to everything she shared, I hugged her while still holding her hands. Together, we bowed our heads and prayed. It wasn't a long or eloquent prayer—it was simply an honest conversation with God.

When we finished praying, I looked into her eyes again. The tears were still there, but something had changed. There was hope.

From that day on, I called her "Mama Jen." Even after my missionary companion and I returned to our mission field, we stayed connected through Messenger. She would often send me updates or simply ask for prayers. Every time I spent time with God, I intentionally included Mama Jen and her family in my prayers.

I kept asking God to restore the love, peace, and understanding in their home. Months passed. Then, on February 10, at around 10:00 PM, I received a message from Mama Jen. She told me that she and her husband were finally okay. She shared that their relationship had actually started healing even before December 25. But the part that brought tears to my eyes was this: her husband had begun driving her and their children to church.

I sat there staring at my phone, overwhelmed with gratitude. I couldn't stop crying. In that moment, I wasn't simply reading a message—I was witnessing the quiet faithfulness of God. Prayer really works. Not because we can control the outcome, and not because answers always come on our timeline, but because God is constantly working in ways we cannot see.

Even in seasons when heaven feels silent, God has never stopped moving. I remembered a Bible passage I had once sent to Mama Jen: Romans 12:18–21. Before sending those verses, I prayed that God would use His Word to comfort her heart and give her strength to keep choosing love, grace, and peace despite her circumstances. By God's grace, those words became a source of encouragement during one of the hardest seasons of her life. This experience taught me something I will never forget.

God listens not only to the prayers we pray for ourselves but also to the prayers we faithfully lift up for others. Sometimes, the miracle we are praying for isn't our own—and yet God still allows us to witness His goodness. Never underestimate what God can do through a simple conversation, a sincere hug, a faithful prayer, or a heart willing to care. Because even when we cannot see Him working, He is.

God sees. God hears. And He truly cares.

— Gilen Escaniel

65th Batch

Bohol, Philippines