Story Behind The Song

A friend's wife died and inspired this song essay about the universality of prayer.

Song Description

This song is a survey of people praying through the centuries. No matter the consequences of their faith, they prayed. "Mysteries abound..."

Lyrics

The Prayers of God's People

In groaning and utterance too deep for words, Through pleading and crying too faint to be heard, Rejoicing and suffering, mourning and praise- God's people persist as they have through the age.

The prayers of God's people to this present day Will bring His great power and protection our way. Fervent and faithful until Jesus comes, God's people have prayed for God's work to be done.

Refrain
In every nation and through the land: I can hear the cries and see the outstretched hands As they lift up their petitions and listen for God's call Praying without ceasing for us all. God's people will triumph, His is people will stand, For the Lord is also waiting with his outstretched hands.

The Spirit attends them and will not depart When people are praying, pursuing God's heart. No matter the outcome, the answers they seek Require their submission to God when He speaks.

At times, when the light of the Gospel was dim, These pilgrims petitioned and found a way in To people who desperately needed this Word- Again, they were certain their prayers had been heard.

Refrain

For some, they would face persecution or death, With prayers on their lips to the very last breath, They passed through the trial with courage and grace, Compelled by the Spirit to run a good race.

Unselfishly they have prayed on at great cost, For friends and for strangers alike who were lost In sin, in confusion, regret and despair, Or plagued by disease and weighed down with great care.
Refrain

Sometimes comes great sadness when answers God gives are, "No," when they asked for a loved one to live. But mysteries abound, this the faithful accept, and they still follow Jesus step by step.