No Prayer Needed

My granddaughter was headed for surgery, and I was concerned. With a few quick text messages, I was able to add warriors to the already impressive list of people who promised to pray. The day came, and we were all nervous. Would our girl be alright? Would the surgery be effective? Would the pain be bearable?

We didn’t need to worry. The surgery went smoothly, the pain she had before surgery disappeared, and recovery has been amazingly swift.

Now I wonder, did we make too big a deal of this? Did we overdo it on recruiting prayer? As I think about this, I realize that it was wrong to worry, because worry is never helpful and only makes things worse. As Jesus once asked, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27) However, to think that prayer wasn’t necessary is to denigrate prayer and to denigrate God. It’s like saying, “You can step down, God, I’ve got this one.” Just because the surgery seemed too easy doesn’t mean it was. The facts are these: 1) I was helpless to heal my granddaughter, and so were the rest of us who gathered to pray. 2) Even if I were a surgeon, I would still need the surgical skills and steady hands that only God can give. 3) Prayer is the alternative to anxiety and worry.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)