“I need prayer.”

“Please pray for me.”

Those might sound like simple statements but what is behind the statement is so critical. It shows our dependence on God. We understand that we need God to work and that is done through prayer. This also shows an understanding that we need others to pray for us.

During the time of tests, waiting for results, procedures and then surgery. It was easy to ask others to pray. I knew that I needed as many people praying as possible. I knew that this situation required prayer.

For some people and some situations, it might be difficult to ask for prayer. I would encourage you to have a few friends that you can share with and know that they will be praying.

This is the second post in a series, Lessons Learned after Major Surgery. The first post is The Value of Community.

If you would like to read part of the story, God is the Author tells a bit of what was happening.

The Need for Prayer

I knew that the tests and procedures prior to surgery as well as surgery and recovery needed prayer. This was beyond what I could do. I had excellent medical care but knew that God needed to work in this situation. Prayer is depending on God and placing our lives in God’s hands.

I know that I need prayer but I need to live life needing prayer. That requires that I know myself to understand that there really nothing I can do. I need God. Prayer shows my dependence on God.

The Need for Others to Pray

There was no question for me. I needed people to be praying. I need people to intercede to God on my behalf. At first, I shared with a select few but as we knew more details we shared more widely.

My husband and I have prayer supporters for our ministry and we needed to keep them updated and informed. We have churches around the world that pray and financially support our ministry. We needed to keep them updated and praying. For me, that meant that I had to decide how open I would be in sharing what was happening.

I find it easier to pray for others than to ask others to pray for me. It can be humbling to ask others to pray. Yet, not asking others to pray is robbing them of the blessing of praying. It is keeping them for seeing and praising God.

I needed others praying prior to surgery, during surgery, and for my recovery.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16 (ESV)

The Value of Others Praying

I remember one particular evening I was exhausted physically and mentally. Seriously, I did not have the energy to pray. It was that evening that I understand more clearly the value of other praying. When I couldn’t pray, others could and did pray.

It was that night that a friend texted me to say, “We are crying out to our Father for you all today.” When I couldn’t pray she was praying.

One friend invited a number of women to join in a time of prayer one evening prior to surgery. I was able to attend and sat in a room for about 20 women who came together to pray.

We were coming to the end of a sermon series and small group discussions in Mark and had recently been in Mark 9. As we gathered that evening, I was reminded “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Mark 9:29 (ESV) I know in this particular passage Jesus is referring to driving out the evil spirit but I also think that it is speaking about our dependence and need for prayer. 

If you are praying for someone, let them know you are praying. Tell them the ways that you are praying. Some prayed for sleep and rest which I needed. Praying for courage when I needed it before a procedure. Praying that I would know God’s holding my hand as I had the PET scan.

Ways to communicate Requests

I needed a way to communicate specific requests. It needed to be something that would be easy to use and could be done almost anywhere. For me, a group text on WhatsApp was the easiest. I needed that group on a Monday morning. I was to get a stint put in the bile duct to unblock it. It was just a temporary measure until surgery but would help me. I checked in at the hospital and then was told that the procedure was not going to be done that day. I was to have been called over the weekend and told that.

That was not what I wanted to hear.  I was told if I went to a different ward I could wait and talk with the doctor. I decided to do that since I was already at hospital. While I sat and waited, I typed a text to my prayer group asking them to pray. It was a long wait but by 3:30 that day I was able to have the procedure.

We have an email list for our ministry prayer and so we let that group know. I sent up a CaringBridge page which was a place that I was able to keep people around the world updated on what was happening and how to pray.

The Value of Sharing Specific Requests

Giving specific prayer requests helps others to be able to pray. I felt that was one way that I could help those praying for me.

Learn to share what is troubling you, the deep heart prayer requests. It might be a specific fear or a worry. Learn to be real with yourself and share it with others.

Two months after surgery I was back in the hospital to have two drains put in draining fluid from my lung and my abdomen. Because of COVID I could not have anyone go with me. I had to go by myself and was alone. It brought back memories of being in the hospital after surgery and was alone. I shared that memory and fear with a friend asking her to pray specifically. As I was in that day and overnight for the drains, God met me there and was my comfort and rebuked me for my pity party. I shared the big ward with one other person, a 16-year-old girl who also couldn’t have anyone with her and we were so far apart we couldn’t even talk.

As I shared my specific prayer requests, friends were able to pray specifically and also to share verses that encouraged me.

Through this experience, I have learned more about the value of prayer and having others pray for me. Have you gone through a difficult experience that has taught you about the value of prayer?