As a society, we have been urged to pray our way through times of crises, as with the Sept. 11 attacks, the war in Iraq and now in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
However, the power of prayer for some has lost its luster and zeal and has become a trite and empty practice. This is in large part due to our increasing knowledge and ability to shape our world around our needs. Often we look within ourselves, to others or past experiences for direction in everyday decisions.
But most continue to engage in prayer particularly in times of peril, because it is during these times when our usual can-do optimism is severely challenged by the reality of our helplessness in these situations.
Many times the lack or insufficiency of support prevents us from being able to weather our circumstances, and thus prayer bridges the gap between our needs and our ability to attain them. There are other components to prayer as well, including its use to achieve spiritual growth and its redemptive properties for the ongoing forgiveness of sins. Even for some who aren’t convinced of the supernatural components of prayer, it nevertheless provides comfort and peace in a time of need.
Another reason for the loss of relevancy of prayer is due to a misunderstanding of what prayer actually is. For the majority of the praying population, the word itself signifies a call to immediate action, not only by requesting action from God but also by initiating a reaction in those engaged in prayer.
For instance, when missionaries travel to other countries, their goal is to not only provide spiritual enrichment to people through their outreach but also, as one of the epistles states, to not just “love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
We see a similar phenomenon following the recent natural disaster affecting the Gulf Coast. Many of the nonprofit organizations that help in the wake of these disasters are religious-based groups, and they have hundreds of volunteers who believe through both practical and spiritual aid that they can help make a difference.
Months following large scale disasters, the amount and rate at which aid comes in begin to decrease as people’s interest and endurance wane. For these people and many others, prayer sustains, encourages and gives hope to many whose outlook is uncertain.
The true nature of prayer then is not just spiritual but is intended to treat the entire person. Prayer helps us relate to the plight of others and intimately involves us in their hardships, making us more inclined to help rather than freeing us from a sense of responsibility. Prayer is inherently a word of action and initiative.
Through prayer, we acknowledge our inability to right all the wrongs and our incapability of having all the answers, and use this vulnerability as a reason to come together, uniting our efforts to overcome adversity.