When All You Can Do Is Pray

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:1 ESV)

It’s been a rough year for so many of my friends. When I look back over my list of prayer requests, I’m reminded how difficult and painful life can be. A spouse’s lost job, a new Lyme disease diagnosis, missionaries stuck in foreign countries because of violent protests, infertility, crumbling marriages—the list goes on.

We see it on social media every day, an all-call to prayer. Comments pour in: praying, prayers lifted, taking this to God. I do the same when text messages requesting prayer hit my phone. Yet it never seems like enough. A silent prayer to an unseen God feels like a drop in the bucket.

My do-something personality longs to offer some tangible support. In most cases, however, I can’t think of a single thing I can do to make things better. I can’t heal. I can’t rescue. I can’t mend what’s broken. In the wilderness of extreme circumstances, the most I can offer is a promise to pray.

First of All

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, we learn that conflict abounds in the church at Ephesus. Pastor Timothy is ready to call it quits. Paul can’t personally visit him nor make it all better, but he sends a letter of encouragement and instruction. After the greetings and introduction, Paul gives the first line of defense: prayer.

I imagine Timothy was a go-getter. As a young man, he bravely left his family to join Paul’s missionary journey (see Acts 16:1–5). He traveled from city to city, establishing new churches as he went. Now with a church of his own, this man of action probably wants to do something to fix what’s broken. Of all the options available to Timothy, Paul wants him to start on his knees in prayer.

While our first inclination is to roll up our sleeves and fix a problem, Paul’s “first of all” reminds us of the most important action we can take. Prayer is more than a polite response to a hurting friend; it’s our passageway to the power of God.

How to Pray for a Friend

It can be difficult to know exactly how to pray for a hurting friend. “Lord, bless her” falls woefully short when we witness soul-crushing pain. What can we say to an all-powerful, all-knowing God?

Why not pray his words? Praying God’s Word over our friends draws on established truths and promises. In praying Scripture, we cooperate with the plans and purposes of God.

Here are a few examples to get you started.

Pray for God’s will.

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from [name]. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42 ESV)

Pray for the forgiveness of others.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 ESV)

Pray in agreement over a deep longing.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (Psalm 37:4–5 ESV)

Pray in sorrow with a friend.

“I’ll join the weeping. I’ll weep right along with [you], weep for [your loss]…I’ll mingle my tears with your tears! The joyful shouting at harvest is gone. Instead of song and celebration, dead silence.” (Isaiah 16:9 MSG, adapted)

Pray in intercession over anxiety.

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:5–6 ESV)

Pray for peace and rest for the weary.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 ESV)

Pray for hearts to change.

The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases. (Proverbs 21:1 NLT)

Pray for healing.

“[Name] is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” (Mark 5:23 ESV)

Pray when you don’t know what to pray.

We don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. (Romans 8:26 NLT)

The pain of a friend is a bigger burden than our shoulders are meant to bear. Paul’s instructions to “first of all, then, pray” is the most powerful, most loving thing we can do for a friend in need.

Father, thank you for your ever-listening ear. Thank you for giving us a powerful way to help a friend in need. Help us to always default to prayer. As we lift the needs of our friends to heaven, we trust you will hear and respond. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. (Matthew 6:7–8 MSG)

Reach for More

Social media gives us access to the personal lives of a lot of people all at once. What an opportunity to be a minister of God’s love and power! Yet it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the prayer needs of our family, friends, and beyond. Today, as you scroll through your feeds, pause to pray as soon as you see a need. If you don’t know what to pray, use the Scripture above as a guide.

The Glorious Table Community would be honored to pray for your needs today. If you have a prayer request, consider joining our Facebook community so we can pray for you.

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man. They have three children. In the quiet minutes of her day, you will find her at the keyboard or curled up with a book–always with coffee. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.