.png)
Q&A With JC
Welcome to the Q&A with Jane Crawford! This page features real questions from people just like you—answered by Jane with wisdom, insight, and encouragement drawn from her life of prayer and intercession. Whether you’re seeking guidance on how to pray, how to stand in faith, or how to persevere through spiritual battles, you’ll find honest, Spirit-led answers here. Have a question of your own? Use the form below to submit it, and Jane may answer it in an upcoming post.
Questions & Answers
Q: What does it mean to “prevail” in prayer, and how is it different from regular prayer?
Prevailing in prayer means refusing to let go of what God has promised until you see it come to pass. It’s the kind of prayer that presses in—not just once, but again and again—with faith, persistence, and expectation. Regular prayer may be part of our daily rhythm, and that’s beautiful and necessary. But prevailing prayer goes deeper. It’s birthed out of burden and sustained by a conviction that heaven will move when we refuse to back down. When I talk about prevailing, I’m talking about the kind of prayer that wrestles, waits, and wars—like Hannah who prayed for a child year after year, or the persistent widow Jesus spoke about who kept coming before the judge until justice was done. It’s not about striving in our own strength, but partnering with the Spirit to stand in the gap for families, communities, or even entire generations. It’s prayer that says, “I won’t quit until breakthrough comes.”
Q: How do I keep praying when I feel like nothing is changing in my situation?
I’ve been there—on my knees, praying the same prayer for days, months, even years, with no visible shift. It’s hard. But I’ve learned that what feels like silence or stillness on the surface is often where the deepest work of God is happening underneath. When it seems like nothing is changing, you are changing. Your roots are going deeper. Your faith is being refined. And heaven is still moving, even if you can’t see it yet. One thing that helps me keep praying is remembering that God isn’t slow—He’s intentional. His timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t match mine. I remind myself of His faithfulness in the past and rehearse His promises, out loud if I need to. Worship helps too—it lifts my focus from what hasn’t happened yet to Who I’m praying to. And sometimes, I stop asking and just sit with Him. Because prevailing prayer isn’t just about getting the answer—it’s about being transformed in the waiting. So don’t give up. Keep showing up. Keep pouring out your heart. Your prayers are never wasted, and breakthrough often comes just after the moment we’re tempted to quit.
Q: How do I know if what I’m praying for is really God’s will?
Discerning God’s will is less about guessing and more about aligning our prayers with who he has already revealed himself to be—his character, his promises, and his purposes in Scripture. I start by asking, “Does this request honor Jesus’ heart for love, justice, and redemption?” If it contradicts what we see in the Bible, it’s a cue to recalibrate. Next, I listen for the Holy Spirit’s gentle confirmation—often a deep, settled peace rather than an emotional high—when I pray. If doubt nags at me, I lean into community: wise sisters in faith, my pastor, or a trusted intercessor who can speak truth and counsel in love. Finally, I look for doors opening or closing. We serve a sovereign God who orchestrates circumstances to guide us. Sometimes an unexpected “no” or delay is just as much an answer as “yes.” Over the years I’ve learned that prevailing prayer shapes our desires to match his will. As we seek him earnestly, he transforms our requests to fit his redemptive purposes, and peace becomes our guidepost.
Q: What role does fasting play in prevailing prayer?
Fasting isn’t about twisting God’s arm—it’s about tuning our hearts. When I fast while praying, it’s like turning down the noise of the world so I can hear God more clearly. It’s an act of surrender that says, “God, I want You more than I want comfort, control, or even answers.” And in the context of prevailing prayer, fasting becomes a powerful spiritual tool that sharpens focus, strengthens faith, and deepens intimacy with God. There have been times I was contending for breakthrough in my family, and fasting helped me see the real battle wasn’t what was happening on the surface—it was spiritual. Fasting helped me recognize what God was doing and partner with Him more intentionally. It humbles us, aligns us, and often accelerates what God is already working on behind the scenes. Jesus said some things only come out by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). So when I sense that resistance is heavy or I feel spiritually sluggish, fasting helps me press in. It’s not magic. It’s not a formula. But when done with the right heart, fasting amplifies our prayers and helps us prevail—not just for results, but for deeper revelation and connection with the One we’re praying to.
Q: How can I pray effectively for my family when they seem far from God or resistant to change?
This is one of the most personal and tender kinds of prayer—and one I know well. When a family member seems far from God or even resistant to change, it can break your heart. But let me encourage you: no one is beyond the reach of God's love, and your prayers matter more than you know. Effective prayer for your family starts with surrender. I’ve had to lay my own timeline, expectations, and even frustration at Jesus’ feet. I ask the Holy Spirit to show me how to pray—not just for outcomes, but for their hearts to be softened and their eyes opened. Sometimes that means praying quietly, behind the scenes, while showing them love and grace in everyday life. Other times it means declaring God’s Word over them when they can’t—or won’t—pray for themselves. I also pray in agreement with what God has already promised: that He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9), and that His kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). I ask for divine appointments, for God to send voices they will listen to, and for strongholds to be broken in Jesus’ name. Even when they’re not responding, God is still working. Keep standing in the gap. Keep loving them. Keep speaking life. You may not see the fruit right away, but your faithful, prevailing prayers are planting seeds that heaven is watering.