Turning the wheel for prayer: trusting God for breakthrough in North Africa

By a mission worker in North Africa

No wonder it continues to be one of the least reached regions of the world.  

How do workers sustain themselves in such difficult conditions? 

“It is only by our prayers and through His Spirit that the Kingdom of God is growing in North Africa.”

When Jesus faced stubborn demonic forces, He explained to the disciples that spiritual breakthrough requires prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). Ministry here is not simply about following a command of Christ’s but a moment-by-moment dependence on His strength and power to sustain. 

As an organisation, our motto is “By Prayer”. Indeed, it is only by our prayers and through His Spirit that the Kingdom of God is growing in North Africa.  

Learning how to persevere in prayer is essential for workers here. 

More than 100 years ago, a worker in this region, Lilias Trotter, painted scenes from North Africa and wrote about her experiences. In times past, there were norias (water wheels) throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Now, only a few remain. However, her lesson on prayer continues to be relevant to today. 

This is what she wrote in her diary entry for July 26, 1906: “The noria in the garden has taught a prayer-lesson today.  

“At the very first turn of the wheel that works it, a cupful of the clear cold water deep down is dipped up – but it does not reach the surface at once. Many and many a godet (cup on the water wheel) comes up first – dry, empty, iron.  

“It is all on the way to the full one that is coming. More than that, each disappointing godet that looks as if it might be the expected one and fails to be, and goes back as it came, means another full cup coming up, if only we go on turning.  

“The prayer disappointments are all part of the prayer answers that are coming”

“For once the first has risen, brimming over, every fresh turn means another and another outpour.  

“The prayer disappointments are all part of the prayer answers that are coming – linked as securely as the godet links of the noria, and working out the one objective.”  

As workers in North Africa, we continue her prayer legacy here as we carry forward a pattern of faithful prayer, not discouraged by the times our prayers seem to go unanswered, but living in hope that the life-giving water is just one more turn away. 

“Learning how to persevere in prayer is essential for workers here.”