The Privilege of Prayer
Let me begin by saying that we are one year into this ministry of Joy in the Mourning and it has been such an honor to get to pray with people and walk alongside them in their grief. Thank you for the opportunities for us to use our experiences to relate with you. We hope you are reminded, as we are, that we are all in this journey together and, most importantly, we are all in this journey with Jesus! We are excited to continue into year two as we continue allowing ourselves the grace to let joy and sadness exist simultaneously.
Just before Christmas I saw a man at Walmart with the local hospital guest tags, yes, multiple, on his shirt. He looked annoyed and hurried and all he had was a canister of coffee. Since I could not get to him, I prayed for him. What a blessing to have the power of prayer and 24 hour access to the only one who holds us in his hands. I felt deeply for this man because I was in his position just three short years ago. I know what it feels like to be away from a loved one in the hospital and not understanding why no one else in the world seems to be in the same hurry and urgency. It also occurred to me that maybe he was visiting someone for a positive reason, like a childbirth, but, from my own experience, I can not imagine that would be as taxing, and this man looked to be worn out.
As I observed this man, my mind filled with questions and things I wish I could say. If only he would look in my direction, maybe then I could give him some nod of understanding or, even better, get him to share what he is going through and remind him that he is not alone. Just two people between us in line, but no words spoken. That is the beauty and the evil of the self check out line. Convenient and quiet sound so appealing, but also so isolating. I know it is not every day that someone needs an encounter with another human at the grocery store, but I do sometimes think it robs us of some needed interactions, whether they be for growth or encouragement.
As I quietly waited to see if an interaction was going to take place, I prayed for the wisdom of what to do and the words to say. I am one that can jump into situations too quickly. Was this a situation where I should walk up and ask to pray? Assessing the situation and what I remember needing during my time rushing to and from the hospital, if I were in a hurry, as this man appeared to be, I would have probably been annoyed by someone trying to slow me down. With that in mind, I prayed. I prayed for his faith and his courage. I prayed for him to have the deep sense of knowing he is not alone because God never leaves us or forsakes us. I do not remember all that I prayed, but I do remember then being impacted by the ability we have to pray. What a joy and what a privilege it is to have the freedom to pray anywhere, at any time, for anyone. Wow.
Let our joy come from knowing when words fail, we can pray. We can pray for strangers, we can pray for family, we can pray for everyone about anything. God gives the gift of prayer to us and we get to use it to be connected to Him. That is our task. That is our duty. That is our honor. That is our privilege. Let us find joy in that this week as we seek to prioritize conversation with Him. Let us rejoice and be thankful, even in the hardships, that we get to receive the privilege of prayer.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
