Powerful Prayers

The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

“Oh, Jesus, please help me,” McKenna prayed. “I think Tara is angry at me, but I don’t know why, and I don’t know what to do about it. Please help me. Please help Tara. I don’t want to lose her as a friend.”

Tara and McKenna have been friends for a long time. When Tara started avoiding McKenna, McKenna knew something was bothering her, but Tara clearly didn’t want to talk about it, so McKenna didn’t know what it was or how to fix it. She was sad and a little angry that Tara wouldn’t talk to her, so she did the only thing she could; she prayed.

A week later, Tara wrote McKenna a note: Some really hard things have been happening in my life. I don’t want to talk about it right now, but please pray for me.

McKenna wrote her a note back: You mean so much to me as a friend. I pray that God would watch over you and help you every day. McKenna hoped Tara would carry that prayer with her and reread it whenever she needed encouragement.

When McKenna saw Tara the next day, they gave each other a giant hug. Tara knew McKenna was there for her and would be there when she was ready to talk.

It isn’t always easy being a friend. Friendship is about far more than the fun sleepovers and hangouts. It’s also about recognizing when our friend is struggling and supporting her even when our own feelings are sad and confused. Oftentimes, the hard things our friends struggle with are things we cannot fix, and we can feel useless and small.

Did you know our prayers are powerful? The Bible tells us over and over that God hears our prayers, he is close by when we pray, and he responds to our prayers. Jesus reminds us to pray for our friends, for ourselves, and for the world around us. Too often it’s the thing we try last, but prayer is really the most powerful tool we have when our friends are going through a tough time.

Things to Think About

• Think of a time you were struggling. What would have helped you? How would you have wanted your friends to react? What would you have wanted your friends to pray for?
• Which of your friends currently needs your prayers?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Make a pretty card with a handwritten prayer for a friend and slip it into her locker or binder. Make it a weekly habit to give a friend a written prayer.