I have two people, my most absolute core, upon whom I
can call at any moment. In any
situation. One will spring to action,
delegating and orchestrating, walk me through each step of the what-could-possibly-come-next
scenarios. And I know that when we hang
up, or finish our frantic texting, she’s praying. If she wasn’t already. The other, because of geographic locale, will
put down the phone and in that instant hit her knees. They are one of her least favorite features;
but I think they are her most beautiful.
She fights so mightily on them, she wields such remarkable power because
of her willingness to bend them.
To be clear, neither reaction is superior to the
other. I need both. I need someone to remind me to breathe, and
who will repeat until I believe it, “you’re okay. You’re okay.
You’re okay.” Someone who tends
first to the immediate, physical needs of my person. And then prays.
Jesus did that.
And I need someone to hand every shard of what I’m
experiencing over, immediately, to the only One who can help. Someone who sees the depth of need in my
spirit, alongside the threadbare workings of humanity; and calls upon the
mighty name of God for respite.
Jesus did that.
Thus, let me first encourage you. Whatever your knee-jerk reaction to another’s
suffering, be it of the fixing variety or the pray-it-out flavor, it’s
okay. Do that. Do first what comes without examination. If you’re a pray-er, then by all means,
pray! If you’re a doer, then do!
Pray. Do. Both of these are exactingly displayed in the
incarnate ministry of Jesus Christ. One
is not greater than the other. Do not
neglect these practices on behalf of your fellow believers. I cannot express the relief in receiving these
gifts, action and prayer. Each, in a
unique and meaningful way, ministers to our holistic person: physical and
spiritual.
When you are overwhelmed or desperate, I pray that you
have someone who tends your physical needs and
someone who carries you into the throne room of God, interceding on your
behalf. And when you have the
opportunity to be a warrior or servant for another, I pray that you rise up to
fill that role. For the beckoning of the
kingdom resides in the mouths and hands of His servants. And the glory of the King is made manifest in
the words and deeds of His people. 
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