All I Can Do Is Pray

When I asked God a few years ago to give me a heart for his people I never knew that that meant I would feel the ache of those hurting...that I would be burdened with a heart of compassion for those in turmoil...that I would feel the deep burning to be where they are when I know I cannot.

Every picture I see of Nepal hits me hard.
Every status I read about my friends hurting crushes my heart.
Every prayer I feel the need to pray brings me to my knees.

Why?

Natural disasters happen quite often and while I do feel sadness for those impacted this is different. When you have spent some of your most memorable moments next to someone, seeing them hurting has more of an impact than just seeing the news scroll across your TV. It's so easy to see the death toll plastered on news articles, say how sad, and then push it out of your mind. When it is happening to people that you have served with, lived with, eaten meals with, hugged goodbye...it changes everything. 

I logged on to Facebook and saw the updates coming from friends in the middle of the epicenter. 

Facebook Status Update from our contact on The World Race, Reuben Rai April 27th 9:45 PM Kathmandu, Nepal Time:

500 Christians are fear dead, 200 alone in Dhadhing near Quake center, 100 in Kathmandu, and 200 in rest areas. Total dead bodies collected exceeded 4000. More then 50,000 in intensive care unit. Thousands awaiting rescue and help. Hundreds still missing in Everest avalanche. No water in shop, no food and vegetables since market is not open. Because of fear of more quake, people still are in open field in cold and rain with their little new born babies, difficult for children and elderly. People are starting to have flue, fever and cold. We will start to help others from tomorrow. Its Monday 9:37 PM. Just hitted by Quake again at 9:37 pm

Photo courtesy of Omar Havana- Getty Images

Everything in me wants to pack a bag right now and get on a flight to be there on the ground. Having my hands physically aiding those in need...hugging those who I know and are hurting...

I feel so useless sitting here in my comfy home with all the water I need...with shelter...

All I can do is pray...

Why God did you give me a heart for them if I cannot do anything but pray?

As soon as I let those words come out I felt so stupid...

As if prayer does nothing...

God has let me have many opportunities to be the hands and feet on the ground during moments in people's lives that they felt so helpless but this was not a time I could do that. This was a time I needed to learn the power of prayer.

That's when I saw this status update from Reuben.

Facebook Status Update from our contact on The World Race, Reuben Rai April 26th 10:45 PM Kathmandu, Nepal Time:

Latest. I ask one womn y u all r here in church you r not even a xian n she said bcause there is safty hre. Your God protcts

They are in the midst of this disaster and he is seeking out moments where God reveals himself. He is choosing to see God is still his protector and those around him that are not even Christians are seeking out God. 

How could I think that God will not work through the prayers of us here in the U.S.? When we say to someone 'I will pray for you', what does that mean? Do we really pray? Do we think it is going to do anything other than comfort in that moment? 

When someone says that they will pray for you it should bring a wave of comfort...you should trust it...you should have faith. 

All that I can do is the best thing I can do right now and that is pray for Nepal, pray for Reuben, pray for his family, and pray for our other friends. Pray to the God who created this world and pray to the God who is most merciful. 

As you go through your day please pray fiercely and with purpose for those in Nepal, for He will hear our prayers. 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5:14-15