I’m having this experience on repeat; where I feel completely helpless for the people I love. There’s nothing I can say or do to take away the many painful experiences in their lives. I can’t guarantee what God will do specifically in regards to their redemption stories moving forward.
The Spirit is often reminding me; I can pray. I can give them to the Lord. I can put their heartache in His hands. I can intercede for them – pleading the blood of Jesus over the weighty sin and shame. I can ask the Lord to deliver, redeem, heal, and make whole in the ways only He can.
After praying, a familiar peace floods like a river. Suddenly, and surprisingly, a sense of joy overwhelming. Joy in knowing this loved one, belonging to the Lord, is in the safest hands possible.
I think the enemy loves to deceive us into thinking, “I wish I could do something, but all I can do is pray…” As if prayer is a second best option to whatever we could physically do to help someone in need. The truth is, praying to the One who has the power to do anything for His children is one of the most loving things we get to do.
If Son of God himself, prayed for his friends in the hour of their need, how much more ought we pray?
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus prayed Peter’s faith may not fail. Although Peter stumbled and denied Jesus, the Lord kept Peter’s faith indeed. How encouraging is that?
While God may not always answer our prayers the way we hope He will, He does hear and respond (1 John 5:14). When we intercede we aren’t just saying wishes to the sky. We have a Great High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses who invites us to His throne of grace to help us in our time of need (Hebs. 4:14-16). Jesus himself is constantly interceding in our behalf before the Father (Rom. 8:34). Our intercession – our prayers on behalf of our brothers and sisters – are making an eternal impact.
Much like Jesus displaying His splendor and glory by laying His life down on the cross, we display Christ when we lay ourselves down at the foot of the cross in prayer. By surrendering, we are actually doing the most for one another. The world may tell us to fight for our rights – do it ourselves – go at it on our own – they don’t need our prayers – but the gospel speaks a different word. The gospel says God fights our battles in victory (Exo. 14:14), we only need to be still (Ps. 46:10) and believe in the One whom God sent (John 6:29).
The next time we find ourselves feeling helpless to care for someone in need let’s remember, we get to pray; and praying is one of the most loving things we get to do.
