Somebody’s Prayin’

In 2007, my son joined the United States Marine Corps.

At the end of each boot camp, there is a three-day final challenge, called The Crucible, which tests the recruits physically, mentally, and morally.

As a worried mother, I petitioned my prayer warrior friends to help cover my son in prayer twenty-four hours a day, with each lady signing up for a specific hour. Afterward, I mailed the schedule to my son. The recruits were allowed to take only certain items with them (neither a prayer schedule nor a watch was on that list).

However, one recruit in their group could estimate time fairly accurately, and my son managed to hide the prayer schedule during his crucible.

When he encountered tough times, my son would ask his fellow recruit what time it was and secretly look at the schedule to see who was praying for him.

At the end of The Crucible, they hike back to the base, where all recruits end up at the Iwo Jima Memorial, and their drill instructors call them marines for the first time. They then receive an EGA medallion (a medallion with an eagle, globe, and anchor on it). This reminds me of another three-day physical, mental, and moral crucible —the one that our Savior faced during the last hours of His life, which consisted of a betrayal, trial, and crucifixion. As we go through this life with all its trials and difficulties, let us remember to look at our prayer list and see that every hour has Jesus’ name written beside it. Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “He ever liveth to make intercession for [us]” (KJV).

At the end of our crucible, when we reach those gates of pearl, our Instructor will give us a new name. Instead of an EGA medallion, we will be given a crown, robe, and harp. How I long for that day. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20, KJV). Listen to the words of the song “Somebody’s Prayin’,” by Ricky Skaggs, and picture a young man at boot camp and later doing two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

That is my son’s story —and it’s yours as well.

Thank you to all faithful prayer warriors and our Great Prayer Warrior!

Kathy Hull