Praying For — part 12 in a series glancing back

The church is full of surprises.

Over several decades in the parish, my family and I sometimes found ourselves in unexpected and unpleasant situations. The people who were the local churches I pastored went out of their way to help.

And then there was this one guy.

About six months after a significant crisis, he told me he’d been praying for me. I thanked him.

“I don’t think you heard me. I was a-prayin’ for you.”

“Yessir, and I thank you.”

He looked away. Looked back at me. “What I mean is, I was a-prayin’ FOR ya.”

I suddenly got it: he’d been praying for me…when I couldn’t. When I’d run out of words. When my faith had withered. I asked him, “How’d you know?”

He said nothing, just uncharacteristically grabbed me and hugged me and then hurried away.

James 5:16 has never been the same for me. It says pray one for another.

He gave that verse new meaning.

You and I know people who need that kind of prayer support today. Let’s take a moment and follow his example.

Let’s pray for one another, especially that person who’s having trouble praying.