Within
recent weeks a few heads of state designated specific days for prayer in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas many welcomed the move, some thought
it was unscientific and superstitious. Both responses invite us to answer the
question, why pray?
Persons
who pray are acknowledging that there is a source of power beyond our own
power. In addition, persons who pray, acknowledge that that power can
accomplish much more than anything we can accomplish. Hence, whenever
situations appear insurmountable, it seems natural to turn to that source of
power for help. And, considering that we face many insurmountable situations in
life, including COVID-19, prayer becomes an obvious option.
Persons
who acknowledge a superior source of power, tend to live their lives with
that perspective in view. In other words, their belief affects their behavior.
Hence, persons who pray should be less pompous and more submissive. They ought
to live with a greater sense of responsibility and accountability to the source
of power they acknowledge.
However,
what if there is no superior source of power? In other words, what if prayer is
nothing but superstition? Well, intellectually, the praying person would be
wrong. Even then, the praying person would not be a loser. The praying person
would have pursued a purposeful lifestyle that enabled him to live an exemplary life.
His community would have benefited from his spirit of humility and responsible
living.
However,
what if the unbeliever were wrong? And, what if the superior source of power is
not superstitious? The unbeliever would have lived a life devoid of
supernatural strength. In addition, the unbeliever would have had no one to
whom he could commit matters that were bigger than he could carry, like COVID-19.
The unbeliever would not be able to mobilize his community beyond himself,
since he is the final arbiter of his destiny. At the end of life’s journey, the
unbeliever dies without hope – there was nothing beyond this life to whom he
could entrust himself. What a life!
But
how does the praying person know that his prayers are not superstitious?
Firstly, he has at his disposal, reliable records of answered prayer. Records
written over hundreds of years, from different countries, in different
languages by a variety of writers, known for their integrity. The records are
often referred to as the most reliable source of ancient history. These records
are collated and translated in more languages than any other book. Although
critiqued more than any other piece of literature, annually, this collated
material continues to be a best seller.
Other
than the Bible, the praying person has a treasury of non-biblical historical
records of answered prayer. For centuries our world has benefited from the
stories of conversion, healing, renewal, revivals and various forms of
transformation. The praying person believes that if his source of power could answer
prayer and has answered prayers, chances are that He will continue to answer
prayers today.
Then,
for what should the praying person pray in times of crisis, especially this
pandemic, COVID-19. Should we ask God to remove viruses? Or, should we ask Him
to enable us to cope with and to manage viruses? I trust this acrostic would
prove helpful as we seek to know for who and for what we should pray at this
time.
P Persons
diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus
Parents who
now manage teaching and working from home
Plan to live
life more purposefully, life is short and fragile
R Researchers
working to find a drug to reverse the impact of the virus
Remember
medical persons who daily risk their lives in service
Renew
commitment to family, it is your most valuable investment
A Authorities
providing leadership in politics and research
Aged persons
now living in fear and relegated to victim-hood
Attempt to
improve nutrition and personal hygiene
Y Yourself…be
determined to become a better person because of crisis
Youth should
commit to utilize their strengths to serve the weak
Yearn for
wisdom to rebuild our communities after COVID-19.
Life
should not be the same after COVID-19. Every area of life has been impacted and
we should see this pandemic as an opportunity to review why and how we do, what
we do.
One
last question, what if the praying persons prays, and still dies. Wouldn’t that
nullify the faith of the praying person? Certainly not. The faith of the
praying person includes the death of the praying person. Interestingly, the
Bible describes the death of the praying person as sleep. The use of the word “sleep”
implies that death does not mean the end. According to the Apostle Paul, if
death were the end of the praying person, he deserves to be pitied (1
Corinthians 15:19). Because death is not the end, one can understand why praying
persons can die with courage and fortitude. For me, this is why it makes sense
to pray during COVID-19.
