Prayer as a Response to Crisis

King Asa of Judah prayed as he prepared to lead his army against a more powerful military force: “Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, ‘LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you” (2 Chronicles 14:11). The king appeals to God’s covenant with his people but also notes God’s love for justice with the observation that God will “help the powerless against the mighty.” He calls for God to remember his relationship with the people of Judah and the lineage of David. We remind both ourselves and God of our relationship when we pray. This past week, as many stated that they were praying for families of the victims of the shooting in San Bernadino, California, others scoffed at the concept of prayer as a response to crisis. The Bible testifies that prayer indeed is an appropriate response, when combined with faith, genuine concern, and faith-based action. Terrorists and other criminals often attack the vulnerable and people engaged in activity (like celebrating at a Christmas party) that compromises their alertness. When we pray, like Asa we confess our helplessness, but also ask for guidance so that we may respond effectively and appropriately. When we pray, we call upon God to remember his zeal for justice. We ask him to make right what has been violated. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, and that fact must remind us that whatever we do from that point, we must remember that we act as Christians. Some seem to perceive all prayer in response to crisis as glib and meaningless. Perhaps some do say they are praying or will pray as a reflexive response, much as we say, "I'm great!" in response to a greeting of "Hi! How are you?" even when we may be having a very bad day. However, I'm convinced that many pray in challenging times with a conviction that our creative God will find a way to execute justice and bring right to an scenario that is entirely wrong. Let us be sure to pray if we say we will pray, and be sure to follow our prayer with positive actions. Our response will impress others as the way that Christians react, whether we respond well or poorly. May we pray and act in response to crisis and injustice in ways that testify to our neighbors about the power of God and the love of Christ.