Someone just prayed for you.

The hour was late, and I was feeling the weight of pain as I rushed to get ready to leave. Yet another medication, along with the disease itself, had caused strange side effects for me — but this time, the on-call nurse told me to get to the ER as soon as I could. This particular reaction was one to be taken very seriously. I sent off a few quick prayer requests to family and friends, wishing that it wasn’t so late and that I had time to send more. Suddenly we were at the hospital, and my phone battery was so low that I couldn’t afford to get online other than a quick glance.

And there it was, a new email stating: “Someone just prayed for you” at the Chronic Joy Prayer Pond.

I had not had time to post a request there, so how had anyone known?

Then I remembered my most recent request from just a few weeks ago: I was having an allergic reaction and requested prayer that I would not have to go into the hospital.  God had answered that prayer by keeping me safe at home that night — but now, He was answering the deeper need in my heart by letting me know that someone was praying for me on the night when I did have to go into the hospital.

Prayer is a lifeline.

After several hours and many tests, I was released to go home with instructions to speak to my rheumatologist the next day. The immediate danger had begun to lift, and the greater protection of God was felt even more strongly in my heart. Those prayers had felt like a lifeline as my husband had to drop me off. My own heart began praying for many others who felt so alone in that late-night hospital setting.

Our Lord knows how deeply we need to be joined together through prayer. Sometimes we know the reason that we are praying, but sometimes He calls us to pray when we aren’t even sure of the reason or the timing. He takes great joy in weaving our hearts together through his own Holy Spirit.

In 2 Corinthians 1:11, Paul says, “… as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”

Would you join us in leaving your request at the Prayer Pond? And then as you read over the other requests, if you click the “I prayed for this” button, the one who left that request will receive an email just I like did during that late night emergency run. We never know how important one little email can be for someone who is in the midst of a hard trial.