“I need you to pray for me,” I texted my closest friends.
“You got it,” they all quickly responded.
I don’t know of anyone who prefers to face life’s most challenging days in isolation. Sure, there are moments when we all like to sit and gather our thoughts about what has happened, but when the going gets tough, we want to know we have someone in our corner.
For example, while my husband and I were in the hospital after the birth of our son, we were amused to see my grandparents, siblings, aunts, and other loved ones constantly coming into our house via our doorbell camera. They brought flowers, balloons, food, welcome home signs, gifts, and even deep-cleaned our home. At that time, knowing that everything was taken care of back at home ensured our focus was solely on our son (who was in the NICU at the time).
But sometimes, casseroles and cleaning aren’t enough. Caring for a friend or loved one in those moments may not involve breaking out the broom and mop. Instead, sometimes, the most essential thing we as believers can do is lift our hurting friends and family to the One who can handle it all.
When I was younger, and my faith was very immature, I would almost roll my eyes when someone told me that they were going to pray for me or that I needed to “pray for the situation.” In the middle of my life being shaken, I didn’t want to sit still and pray. I wanted instant healing and comfort. A small part of me wished these people who offered prayers could magically fix whatever was ailing me.
However, the older I’ve gotten, and the more I’ve come to know the Maker of the universe, I understand that nothing is more powerful than those four words: “I’m praying for you.”
Recently, my husband and I faced a heartbreaking situation. In grief, I sat and tried to collect my thoughts and figure out what to do next; I was reminded of a few people who had stood where we were standing. Without hesitation, these friends who love us (and Jesus) offered me those words mentioned above with genuine love and care.
Although the situation didn’t turn out as we’d hoped, because of the prayers of my loved ones, I was met with the ultimate peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
In the aftermath, I couldn’t help but be grateful that I was a child of God and a member of God’s family.
As believers, we can go to the throne with our requests and intercede on behalf of our loved ones. And at the end of the day, I don’t know what shows love more than being able to take those who are hurting before an all-powerful, all-knowing, good God who loves each of us immensely.
In Matthew 5, Scripture tells the story of a man whose friends made a life-changing difference for him. This unnamed man was paralyzed. Unable to walk to Jesus, his friends decided they would do anything they could to ensure he made it to Him.
So, they tore down a roof.
But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. (Matthew 5:19).
I can’t imagine this scene unfolding. Everyone is sitting and listening to Jesus, then all of a sudden, tiles start chipping away so a man can be lowered to see Him. But this man? He isn’t tearing down the building himself. No, instead, his friends are carrying him to the King.
But this story gets better!
Verses 20-24 state:
Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”— He said to the paralytic —“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. (Emphasis added.)
Because of his friends’ faith, Jesus healed the paralytic man.
Just as this story teaches, there is no greater gift in our daily lives than having friends who love us enough to ensure we see and know Jesus. Even if our physical healing doesn’t come or our deepest prayer-filled desires aren’t answered, it is always a blessing to know that who we have in our corner makes a difference.
Choose the people who point you to Jesus.
