God Is Sovereign, God Is Love

Are you praying desperately for loved ones and wondering if they’ll ever come to know Jesus? You are not alone. This is the battle that St. Monica had all the way back in the fourth century AD.

Monica was a devout Christian. She was in an arranged marriage with Patricius, a man who did not share her faith but surprisingly allowed her to practice hers. Life was far from easy for her—Patricius was abusive and unfaithful, and his difficult mother-in-law came to live with them. Monica must have been frustrated at times, desiring them both to turn to God.

Monica prayed constantly for her family, refusing to give up on them and remaining faithful, even when it must have seemed impossible. Finally, after many years of crying out to God, both her mother-in-law and her husband converted to Christianity, shortly before Patricius’ death.

While part of her prayers had been answered, Monica had another prayer request regarding her son, who would eventually become known as St. Augustine. Young Augustine was a disobedient and rebellious person, but Monica never gave up on him, remaining fervent in prayer for his conversion.

It appeared he would never change his ways, but several months before Monica died, something miraculous happened. With the influence of Ambrose, a gifted speaker and Christian bishop, Augustine converted to Christianity and became a changed person.

Monica’s life serves as a reminder that God is still at work, even when all seems lost. We can trust Him and pray persistently, knowing He is the One who saves. Monica’s sacrificial love toward her family members demonstrated the love Jesus showed to her—and us—on the cross. • Cindy Lee

• Who are people you are praying for right now?

• Does it comfort you to know you aren’t in control of saving other people?

• How can you love others in your life like Jesus has loved you?

• Read 2 Timothy 1:1-5. Lois and Eunice were the grandmother and mother of Timothy, who was a young leader in the early church. How did their faith impact how they raised Timothy? How was Monica’s influence on Augustine similar to the influence Lois and Eunice had on Timothy?

We love each other because he loved us first. 1 John 4:19 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Isaiah 55:8-11; 1 John 4:7-10, 16-18