The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
—2 Peter 3:9
"Go for souls and go for the worst."
It was the battle cry of General William Booth when he founded the Salvation Army in 1865. This brigade of soul-saving soldiers effectively reached the least likely candidates with the gift of God’s grace.
What was the secret to their soul-winning? Was it compelling gospel tracts or persuasive apologetics? Neither. Their chief weapon was fervent prayer. General Booth often held all-night prayer meetings to combat the forces of darkness at war with the kingdom of light. The Army’s officers were trained to be warriors—in prayer.
One exception to the mission’s success was Kate and Mary Jackson, officers who labored for two years without rescuing any lost souls. After trying everything they knew to do, the disheartened women wrote General Booth to request a different assignment. The General sent back a telegram with only two words: “Try tears.”
Taking their commander’s advice, the officers travailed with anguish and tears to heaven. Cries pierced the silence. Mercy drops began to fall. A mighty downpour of grace swept lost ones into God’s family.
The battle for salvation is fought and won through tears. When our tears flow for the things that break God’s heart, we can expect the heavens to part. His heart is always bent toward mercy. He doesn’t desire one solitary life to perish (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:3–4). Since our Savior wept over Jerusalem, knowing that judgment was coming (Luke 19:41), shouldn’t we also weep with Jesus over the souls who haven’t yet been redeemed?
We’ve been commissioned into the Lord’s Army to search out and rescue the lost with the gospel of grace. The mission starts now—by crying out.