I have been reflecting on my past week. I was concerned that things would have taken a step back because of my absence over the Christmas period. I was correct in my concern. Conversations have been very limited and most of the week I have sat alone and simply waited!

This last week has been a hard and lonely week. I knew the week was always going to be ‘harder’ as it was the week of the annual YFC staff conference and not being there after doing around 12/13 in a row was odd not least because it was a highlight of the year when I used to enjoy meeting up with people that I never saw for the most of the rest of the year. I missed meeting with these people whose friendship and time I have valued over the last decade.

The week, though, has been hard because it has been a quiet and lonely week. Having no staff meeting at the start of the week left me feeling surprisingly un-rooted from the start of the week. Sitting in ‘spoons and the gym and having only one conversation all week results in you questioning what you are doing, and why you are doing it.

It is at times like this that I am grateful most of all for my prayer partners. The realisation that they are praying for the stuff I ask them to pray for on a day by day basis through my weekly email has been a real encouragement to me this week. When I have felt alone (and yes … I know I have not been because God has been with me!) it has been amazingly helpful to know that others have been praying for exactly what I have been doing.

So … don’t underestimate prayer – and thank you to each and every one of my prayer team. Of course … if you’d like to join this fantastic group of people who receive a weekly email from me and pray accordingly please get in touch!