Why would being prayed for be a comfort?

[rajakrsna]

The author of this title I quote verbatim, " The article's main subject is the faith of President Obama, but I noticed that when I thought of prayer in the way that people had described it in our threads here, aspects of the story didn't make a whole lot of sense... in particular, the fact that the father of a girl with severe cancer would be "comforted" by Obama's prayers for her.

If prayer really is a matter of aligning one's heart with the will of God, then why would prayers for a sick child be a comfort to the parents?

I mean, when we think of prayer as "aligning our wills with God's will", "I'll pray for your daughter" would mean something like "I'm going to try to align my heart with the will of God for your daughter, whether it means she's cured or she dies of the disease. Whichever God wants, I'm going to try to want it, too." I don't see how this sentiment would be comforting to the parents of the girl. In their position, I'd probably think "well, that's great for *your* peace of mind, but what about our daughter?"

Something doesn't add up here for me. My suspicion is that this is a matter of people treating prayer like a real, effective thing most of the time, but then retreating from this idea when asked for evidence. Does anyone have a different view that they'd like to share?

If prayer is a matter of effecting an internal change in the person praying and not an external change in the world, why would the words "I'll pray for you" be comforting? "

I just want to illicit your reactions to this post.

[fuzzywuzzy]

You know? For a phillippino you have a lot of interest for the Obama administration.

[chonsigirl]

Well, I will say that having 2 people present and praying for me yesterday did wonders. God still works in a believer's heart and mind. Took my blood pressure down, since I was sitting at a high rate waiting for the surgery to be canceled, and oh my that would have been a pip. (yes, went down from above 180 to 160, which is so out of the normal range for my normal 110)

I tell people I will pray for them when they are having difficulties, it does help and comfort them. If there are in such a dilema or crisis that they can hardly do anything but survive, someone else praying for them gives them the option to concentrate on surviving-sometimes it does come down to that at a certain point.

[Snooz]

Sometimes it's comforting to know that someone is thinking of you in a good, loving way. The religious part doesn't do anything for me though, if there's a god, I'm sure s/he's got better things to do.

[Infinite Stop]

You pose a good question, really. To me the best, most faithful prayer would be the one that puts all trust in God's higher purpose and wisdom. In other words, "May God's will be done." But it would feel offensive for me to pray for a sick and dying child in such a manner. If I approach the Divine in prayer (I rarely do) I assume--perhaps incorrectly--that God will share my sense of compassion and goodwill for others. I see sickness as a "bad" thing to be overcome, while good health is a good thing to be desired. As a compassionate human, I want to see a child laugh, love, and be healthy. So I, and I'm sure most others, would pray for that happy outcome, and that God too wants that happy outcome. Most loving, compassionate people wish others happiness, and I would assume God would want the same.

In truth, it could be God's will that the child is meant to suffer. It may be that in the cosmic scheme of things the child's sickness may bring a greater good, or teach that child's spirit a valuable lesson. Nevertheless, I believe that my role as prayerful supplicant is NOT to try and understand God's unfathomable ways, but to wish for others their greatest happiness possible. I'll let God take care of the details.

[Ahso!]

Infinite Stop;1388777 wrote: You pose a good question, really. To me the best, most faithful prayer would be the one that puts all trust in God's higher purpose and wisdom. In other words, "May God's will be done." But it would feel offensive for me to pray for a sick and dying child in such a manner. If I approach the Divine in prayer (I rarely do) I assume--perhaps incorrectly--that God will share my sense of compassion and goodwill for others. I see sickness as a "bad" thing to be overcome, while good health is a good thing to be desired. As a compassionate human, I want to see a child laugh, love, and be healthy. So I, and I'm sure most others, would pray for that happy outcome, and that God too wants that happy outcome. Most loving, compassionate people wish others happiness, and I would assume God would want the same.

In truth, it could be God's will that the child is meant to suffer. It may be that in the cosmic scheme of things the child's sickness may bring a greater good, or teach that child's spirit a valuable lesson. Nevertheless, I believe that my role as prayerful supplicant is NOT to try and understand God's unfathomable ways, but to wish for others their greatest happiness possible. I'll let God take care of the details. This is just pure silliness.

[Infinite Stop]

Ahso!;1388780 wrote: This is just pure silliness.


Huh?

[Ahso!]

Infinite Stop;1388782 wrote: Huh?Were you by any chance home-schooled by Christian intellectuals?

[Oscar Namechange]

The Holy Qur'an preaches violence towards women doesn't It ?

[YZGI]

SnoozeAgain;1388426 wrote: Sometimes it's comforting to know that someone is thinking of you in a good, loving way. The religious part doesn't do anything for me though, if there's a god, I'm sure s/he's got better things to do.


I agree. He/She is probably helping football players score touchdowns.

[Bryn Mawr]

oscar;1388789 wrote: The Holy Qur'an preaches violence towards women doesn't It ?


Does it? Where?