Throwing Up A Hail Mary

Throwing Up A Hail Mary

Have you ever been in a situation where the only thing you can do is pray?

This week, I was in that position.

My brother and his wife have been expecting. She went out of town to visit family, while my brother stayed in Ohio to work. Then, she went into labor early, and my brother suddenly found himself hours away from a painful and stressful situation. There were no flights to get him there quickly, so he started driving.

That’s when I found out about the crisis. When someone you love is struggling or in an emergency, you feel the need to do something. That’s how I felt. I wanted to do something—anything. I asked my brother if there was anything I could do, any way I could help. He told me that all I could do, all he could do, all any of us could do, was just pray.

To finish the story: my niece and her mom are fully healthy. My brother made it out to them, and everyone is stable.

My first thought after talking to my brother was, “Of course I’ll pray, but surely I can do something more.”
Then, as I began to slow down and process, I was reminded that prayer was the best thing I could do in this situation. Sure, action—or finding a way to physically serve or help—is vitally important and worth pursuing. But the best way we can help others is to go before the King of Kings on their behalf. Here are some truths about prayer I was reminded of:

Faithful prayer is not an empty wish; it has real power.

When we pray to God, it’s often difficult to see His response. Sometimes we pray and don’t receive what we asked for, or nothing seems to change. Other times, what we prayed for happens, but we don’t see any miracles through it. This can lead us to think that prayer is ineffective—or that God is going to do what He wants anyway, and our prayers don’t change that.

But James says, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” And in Luke 11, Jesus says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

While God is omniscient, Scripture teaches that He responds to prayers offered in faith and submitted to His will. That truth should lead us to examine the heart behind our prayers. Do I believe that God really can and will move in this situation? Are my motives founded on the Word and will of God, or are they selfish or carnal?

Prayer should be the first response, not a Hail Mary when there are no other options.

So often—like I did this week—we want to act first and pray later. Prayer becomes like a Hail Mary in football: we just throw it up and hope God makes something happen. We try to solve the problem ourselves, and if we can’t, then we go to God and see what He can do.

This approach to prayer seeks independence from God. We only go to Him when we need to get out of a bind, rather than relying on Him for everything in our lives.

Philippians 4:6–7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Scripture calls us to go to God in prayer and thanksgiving in everything. Then the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.

It is still important to act. We are called to pray, but also to work hard and serve others. However, our work and service are to be powered by God through prayer.
Do you pray first and act after, or act first and pray when you're out of options?

Consistent prayer makes prayer a natural reaction to everything in life.

The best way to develop a prayer life that trusts God and turns to Him first is to make prayer a consistent habit throughout your life. Romans, Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians all tell us in various ways to pray always, continually, or without ceasing.

Prayer—communication with God—should be woven into every part of our day. Sometimes that means asking for help. Other times it’s thanking Him, confessing sin, or submitting our will to Him. But as the habit builds, we begin to see the results of prayer. We begin to feel the peace and presence of God even in everyday chaos.

How can you take steps to make prayer a more consistent part of your life?

Serving Together,
Tyler B