Pray As You Can
The other day, I took lunch to a friend whose current health condition keeps her at home most of the time. It was the first time in a long while that we had an opportunity to visit one-on-one.
I asked my intelligent friend who has always been busily engaged in lots of different activities what the most difficult challenge has been since her health has changed. “Good question,” she murmured, and I could tell she was giving my inquiry careful consideration. What my friend has experienced has not been easy, and she was honest about her struggles. But it wasn’t long before she reframed the question and began telling me what good had come during this different and difficult life season.
My friend told me one benefit of her health limitations is that she can pray more. Every day, she said, she prays for not only her beloved family, but for political leaders around the world. Without fail, she prays for each one of the pastors at our church and for their families. Her list was extensive, and her joy which came from prayer was evident. I sure know who I’ll be calling when I feel the need for extra prayer!
Lunch with my long-time friend reminded me of an encouragement I’ve never forgotten:
Pray as you can, not as you can’t!
I didn’t ask my friend if she ever lamented in prayer because of her health situation. Honestly, she would have biblical justification in doing so. In fact, over one-third of the Psalms are prayers of lament. Feeling confident enough to complain in prayer is often a sign of deep trust in a loving God who is big enough to handle our laments.
I also didn’t ask her if she had asked God to heal her, but again, Scripture invites us to pray for healing. Somehow, I can imagine my friend praying to the God she loves intimately the words of Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
save me, and I shall be saved,
for you are my praise.
Perhaps we’ll talk about this during a future lunch, but what I heard this time is that rather than despairing about what she is no longer able to do and complaining to God or imploring God to change her circumstances, my friend has discovered she CAN pray just as things are right now, even as the Apostle Paul advised:
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
Lunch with my friend was much more than munching sandwiches, crunching celery and carrot sticks, and sipping Trader Joe’s yummy low-sugar pink lemonade. During our two hours together, my soul was nourished, and my commitment to keep learning ways to pray as I can was kindled.
Blessings on your journey of praying as you can!
