Hear Our Prayer

“Hear Our Prayer” is typically uttered by communities as a petition asking God not just to hear about our pain, but to provide a response that conforms to our expectations.

There is no shortage of need in this world of ours.  We ask that jobs are restored, that children be allowed a pathway to learning, that loved ones will be healed of whatever ails them, and that severe weather might be eluded. This is a very short list as the world we see is in turmoil all around us.

Sometimes, we feel blessed as we realize fulfillment.  

Sometimes, the uttering of these three words expressing a need seems to have no effect. We embrace disappointment. We are told to cultivate patience as we experience delays.  We are told that longings might be answered in unexpected ways.  We are warned that our petition may see no resolution at all. 

In these circumstances, we wonder if we are completely ignored. We wonder if we are simply talking to the ceiling.  We consider a God that is too busy, does not care, or perhaps does not exist. 

We despair.

This week, I read a quote from Ashleigh Brilliant that resonated. 

“If we could all hear one another’s prayers, God might be relieved of some of His burden.”

This statement requires thoughtful introspection and deep-seated awareness.  The implications can be quite exhilarating!

Sometime this week, pick somebody.  This individual (or family) can be remarkably close to you. A stranger works even better.  

Spend some serious time imagining their life, their struggles, and their pain.  In the private moments of a dark and terrifying night, what might they be asking from a good God?  

The next steps become crucial.  Praying for their needs is, of course, something we can do immediately. It is interesting to note that asking God to be with them in their pain is a gift to them which also rewards us by moving minds and hearts beyond self-interest.  But Mr. Brilliant’s quote asks more of us.

There might be actions available allowing us to be the answer to another’s prayer. We can function as the hands and feet of God if we are willing.  We are given the option to be the cause of delayed prayer response or the solution to it.

Being willing can change lives and the world we live in:  

• We become part of the solution.
• We learn something about a neighbor.
• We understand a little more about our differences and our commonalities.
• We become a little less polarized.
• We become a little less self-centered
• We learn to listen to a God who calls us to love our enemies

We might then be positioned to replace this three-word article title with the three words Jesus says to his disciples, “You feed them.” (Mark 6:37)