Shared story: ‘I pray, but I have many questions about prayer’
Today’s Shared Story comes from Chuck Sackett, Quincy Illinois
Note from Mark: Chuck, a retired minister and Christian college professor, is undergoing treatment for MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome which leads to leukemia). He is not a caregiver; he might say others are caring for him! But the following piece, which appeared earlier this year on his Facebook page, confronts an issue most caregivers consider. It offers a perspective to help anyone reading this blog, and I’m most grateful for Chuck’s permission to repost it here.
I have a confession. Even though I’ve been doing ministry for 50 years and have been a believer for 55 years or so, I still have more questions about prayer than I have answers.
So many prayers . . . and kinds of prayer
Our family is blessed to have hundreds of people praying for us. We hear from them regularly; individuals and church prayer teams alike. But do more voices have more influence with God than a solitary cry for help?
Prayers are being offered globally. Because of that, it’s possible there are people praying each hour of every day. Does filling the clock and the globe with prayers result in more response?
Some people pray every single day, others as they are prompted. Some sit for an hour(s) with their prayer list, others as they drive by a house. Does consistency make the difference?
A few folks write their prayers, some pray the words of the ancient church fathers/mothers, some pray the Psalms and other texts, and some simply pray as the words come. Does eloquence contribute to the significance of the prayers?
One good friend returned to faith simply because he was compelled to pray for his friends who share a condition like mine. Does proximity to belief matter?
Some of my friends spend more time with the Trinity than they do with mere mortals. They almost shame Gabriel and Michael (archangels) for time with the Father. Does closeness to God, depth of one’s spirituality, enhance the value of one’s words?
In an unusual conversation with my mother, she angrily responded to my attempts to share Jesus with her by shouting, “Don’t you think I pray?” Does the affirmation of our faith in some way empower our influence with God?
‘I believe, but . . .’
I sat on my front porch with a good friend this past week talking about our particular situations. He shared with me his deep faith and convictions. But then admitted that he struggles when new difficulties arise. I was privileged to share with him the favorite prayer of a great friend. It comes from Mark’s Gospel as the story is told of a father seeking healing for his son. Jesus had encouraged belief and the man cried, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”
I get that prayer. I believe. But on days when my confidence flags, when I’m not quite so certain of tomorrow as I’d like to be, I find myself imitating that prayer. “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”
Immediately after healing that distraught father’s son, Jesus said to those with him, “This kind only come out by prayer.”
I may have more questions about prayer than I have answers, but this I know with certainty. No act of piety reveals our absolute dependence on God more than does our praying. Whether it’s the solo voice of a broken heart or the collective voices of a global prayer team, prayer says, “God, we cannot do this without you.”
Since I am absolutely convinced of that, I affirm: “Lord, I believe……Help my unbelief!”
Photos by witsarut sakorn at iStockphoto.com and Brennan Martinez at Unsplash.com