As they headed out the door to sing their hearts out at the Ariana Grande concert, nobody at the Manchester Arena could have prepared themselves for what would unfold.
Police suspect a suicide bomber is what caused the explosion that has so far left 22 dead and more than 60 injured following the concert on Monday evening.
22 lives were cut short. 22 families now shattered. And our world is struggling to fathom what has happened.
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In times like these, I’ve learned that we often don’t know how to respond.
It breaks our hearts to see such tragedy rock our world. And even being thousands of miles away, events like this feel so close to home. So as a way to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering through unimaginable circumstances, we start to see these hashtags floating around: #PrayForManchester, #PrayForPeace, #PrayForAriana.
In fact, it happens so regularly that as soon as something “big” appears on the news, you can bet that social media is already blowing up with “prayers.”
But imagine how different our world would look if the power of prayer was happening as often as the hashtag is trending.
Why We Hashtag
These tragic events are writing the worst parts of history, and they’re becoming so “normal” that the only way we know to respond to them is with a hashtag.
To be honest, I don’t think I’m alone in feeling helpless. Like, I don’t know what we could possibly do to help the situation, so we resort to this.
When something tragic happens in our world, we are informed of the events almost instantly. In some cases even while it’s still happening. In these moments, social media creates a platform for caring. Almost to a fault—like if you don’t post about how you’re caring for the events, you must not care.
But imagine how different our world would look if the power of prayer was happening as often as the hashtag is trending.
Praying Is Far More Than Sentences Without Spaces
So this hashtag floats around, “#PrayForManchester” and helpless people like me share it to show that we’re aware of and thinking about the events that have unfolded.
But when it comes down to the root of it all, are we really praying? Or just sharing a hashtag to show that we care.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve told people, “I’m praying for you.” Then the moment passes, that prayer completely slips my mind, and it never happens. Or maybe I’ll say a prayer right in that moment, before I forget. But if I’m being honest, it’s probably not all-that intentional, and my heart probably is in a position of asking something of God, rather than “entering his gates with praise and thanksgiving.”
Is it all that different from when we share #PrayForManchester?
Sure, it’s being talked about everywhere–as it should be. My husband and I watched the news break as it happened. We talked about it, shared in the heartbreak, then talked some more about how “we can’t even imagine what these people are going through.” Yet after all of it, we didn’t once actually PRAY for the victims and their families.
Yes, we are Christians, and yes, my heart truly breaks over this situation. But in our humanness, we did more talking about what’s happening than we did praying about it.
I think sometimes we feel so defeated by the magnitude of these atrocities, that it seems like our one little prayer won’t make much of a difference. This evil, is far bigger than me and it’s an enemy that only God can destroy. But never does that ever mean that my prayer is obsolete.
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22
God calls us to pray BIG prayers that are bold, specific and full of foolish faith. To pray for the impossible. So I pray for Manchester. I also share the hashtag, but I think it’s important to note that one does not equal the other. Don’t post the hashtag just to post it. The words #PrayForManchester mean so much more than what a measley hashtag can offer.
Praying for the Impossible
In times of tragedy, “#PrayFor___,” is something that makes us feel good in our humanness. But when we actually pray during these times, we are calling on God to show up, and work in ways that only HE can.
He didn’t create or cause these tragedies. But his heart breaks for them. The REAL change we want to see in the world can only happen through the power of Jesus Christ.
Who brought Lazarus back from the dead? Who healed an old cripple and made him walk? Who parted an entire sea for a nation to walk through to escape their enemies?
Pray to THAT God under every circumstance—big or small. It’s not about praying for the best. It’s about praying for the impossible.
Don’t “Waste” Your Prayers
Praying intentional prayers is so much more than simply “praying for a city.” There are so many people, places, things and lives that are affected by the terror that we see unfold every day.
I fight against generics because Saffie Rose Roussos is not a generic victim. Georgia Callander doesn’t have her own hashtag, but she was among those precious souls whose lives were robbed too soon.
When prayer is ignited by a hashtag, we are praying generic prayers to a mighty, powerful, all-knowing God who is anything BUT generic.
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The Bible says that the Lord who knows each of us and He calls us by name. Shouldn’t our prayer lives be a reflection of that? Shouldn’t we be praying for more than just a city, but specifically for our brothers and our sisters?
I’m genuinely praying that in every new tragic circumstance, my fellow Christians will commit to praying for the moms of every victim, or the children who are now dad-less. Pray for the finances of the victims’ families, and the milestones they’re going to face with a piece of their heart and life missing. Pray outside of the box, and be foolish in your requests.
Prayers are precious, and they hold so much power. No prayer is too small or too big for our INCREDIBLE God. But I beg you, be intentional with what you call upon the Lord for. In times of tragedy, when the whole world is watching, we as Christians have the power to be the light that shines through all darkness.
You can never lessen the value of a prayer. But let’s not minimize our requests to things of this world by praying for warm weather tomorrow, or a front row parking spot. When praying for this tragedy and those involved, be reminded of the power of prayer. It is so much more than a social media presence.
I wont settle for a hashtag, but I will trust in a conversation with the creator.
