There’s been quite a bit of discussion about prayer and its results. The horrible shooting in Minneapolis has brought on a discussion of the real power of prayer. Is prayer a comforting lip service used to quiet and calm a situation? Is prayer merely a social band-aid for a challenging disaster? Another shooting in our country, this time it is two small children who are the victims, along with 17 others wounded. Again, the shooter takes their life at the end of the massacre. I am beginning to wonder about the shooter. Why was this soul so unhappy with their life that they wanted to share their frustration and depression with multiple innocent souls? This crime, however, speaks loudly of a hatred of society in general. The innocent represents the society that has, in some way, wronged, ignored, or shortchanged the shooter in this life.

Many people want to convey their sadness and pain at the incident. They want to show that they, too, have been affected by this event. They want to show solidarity with the parents of the children. They want to say, “We know what you are going through, we understand you’re suffering. Often, people will say, “You are in our thoughts and prayers”.

This incident has sparked numerous comments suggesting that prayer is merely a polite way of saying something socially acceptable. Many of the local officials in the Minneapolis area, as well as other elected officials, although angry at what has occurred, see no need for prayer or thoughts. They repeated often that what was needed was action, not prayer. They implied with this comment that prayer does not work, is not a factual entity, and is not worthy of our time. What has happened to prayer in our community that it is seen as a cop-out, not as an aspiration of unity?

I think we have lost our understanding of prayer itself, as well as the benefits of a unity and consciousness of the suffering of others. Prayer is quite literally asking God to listen to us, our concerns, and needs. The most common entry into prayer for most people is to speak to God about their concerns. It is also a gesture that demonstrates our humility and confidence in God’s care for us. Often, it is not an instant relief of the situation we see or the event we have witnessed. Prayer is a sign of our unity with the goodness of hope. We are asking God to help the situation, incident, or calamity that we have witnessed. We want to see His grace flow into the hearts of those who are suffering. It is not something that we can hold in our hands or physically bring to those who we see require compassion and healing. Prayer is an abstract gift to those who suffer. It also shows that those saying the prayers understand the situation that is calling forth this prayer. We are all connected. Somewhere, these individuals who see prayer as ineffective do not understand the power or reason of prayer. Prayer is a connection between heaven and earth, between the abstract and the time-bound; it is the ultimate communication. “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24) or again “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:13-14). Again, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:22). The New Testament is sprinkled with Jesus telling us to pray, ask, and we will be answered.

One of the disconnects here is that often the answer to our prayers is not immediate, or not what we want to hear. Prayer is on God’s time, not ours. It is those who see no action or results from prayer that conclude prayer is merely an empty and meaningless act. I have witnessed prayer in my patients and how it has healed and stilled anxiety. I have seen families make decisions that prayer brought clarity and peace. Prayer is abstract, yes, but it is also effective. We are children of a loving God, and He told us He is listening and can only do what is right. When God sends us a challenge in our lives, he does one of two things: He gives us the grace to go through it, or he takes the challenge away. Either way, he answers our prayers.

Those who find prayer and compassionate thoughts to be a waste of time are taking away a powerful tool. Let us pray for these unbelievers that they will come to see what a gift prayer is to our lives and our shared humanity.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7).

Amen