A Prayer for Friends in Crisis
On one of those days, as he [Jesus] was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. (Luke 5:17–19)
Most loving Jesus, I begin today with a sense of urgency for a few friends. Though I don’t have to rip tiles off a roof to bring them to you, I would if need be. For you alone have the authority to forgive sins and the power to heal every disease.
You alone have the Spirit without measure. You alone care for the poor, bind broken hearts, free captives, release prisoners, bestow God’s favor, comfort mourners, provide for grievers, and bring beauty, gladness, and praise (Isa. 61:1–3). What a Savior you are! And everything you do, you do with so much joy.
Jesus, for my brother who is absolutely paralyzed with fear, grant him your peace and heavenly wisdom. He has every right to be afraid because he is living in a vortex of great darkness. Important decisions have to be made and broken people well cared for. For your glory, show yourself as the God who is mighty to save.
Jesus, for my married friends who used to live face to face in kindness and affection but now live back-to-back with rancor and stubbornness, raise the dead, O God of resurrection. There is no hope unless you replace stony hearts with hearts of flesh. Both of them need to come to the cross, and soon, but at least soften one of my hardened friends. Bring somebody to gospel sanity so the other spouse will see beauty and dare to hope again.
Jesus, for my friend who lives with three hours of sleep a night, unrelenting depression, and haunting memories of inconceivable abuse, I simply cry for mercy, Jesus. With wet eyes, not clenched fists, I simply ask, “How long, O Lord? How long before my friend knows the freedom and healing you alone can give?”
This I know for sure, Jesus: you do all things well, even if you don’t do some things the way I want you to. In your merciful and mighty name I pray.
Amen.