I never realized the phrase "thoughts and prayers" was viewed with disdain by some people. But, of course, it's easy for me to get defensive about that—prayer has become my first response to tragedy. The problem is, for many of us, prayer is also our last response. We're seldom moved beyond prayer to sacrifice, give, and reach out to those who are hurting. We don't give "thoughts and prayers" a second thought. I feel the conviction of that.
And, of course, some question what good prayer does anyway. Does prayer change anything? While we can tell stories of miraculous answers to prayer, we honestly have to tell the stories of when we prayed, and nothing changed. In fact, we need look no further than the Bible and the story of Jesus pleading with the Father to let the cross pass him by, to realize that prayer doesn't always change things. So what do thoughts and prayers do?
C. S. Lewis once wrote, "I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me." I think that's the place for all of us to begin with our "thoughts and prayers." If we plead with God to change our circumstances, we should be willing to receive his grace when he chooses to change us.
