When I Feel Like Prayer Isn’t Enough

The past few weeks I have sat in my air-conditioned home in Ohio and watch the devastation unfold as two hurricanes have poured destruction on Texas, the Caribbean and now Florida.

Through the kingdom I have become connected to God’s family all around the world. In fact, this year I have been in Houston, San Juan and, my husband I have tickets to fly to Tampa in a week. All these areas have been at the mercy of the storm.

As I sit and sip my coffee and scroll through my Facebook news feed a gnawing feeling pesters me.  Tonight my uncle in Naples and my cousin and her family in Tampa are bracing for the storm.

…

I never finished that post about hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Maybe because the feeling would get worse when Maria hit Dominica on September 19 and moved on to Puerto Rico, doing much greater damage than Irma.

The devastation in Dominica is unfathomable. Communication is only by satellite. There will be no power and water for up to a year. The trees were stripped of all their vegetation as if they were burned by the power of the wind. The roads are washed out by mudslides so transportation, when possible, is treacherous.

My dear friend and sister, Yvonne , was able to send a message to the States. They are alive. Every roof in their village was tore off. The only water is from the river. There are no supplies. No trees for food. They are trying to get their children off the island.

Adding to my impending helplessness, after Marie destroyed Dominica, she devoured Puerto Rico. The metropolitan area of San Juan has no power. No water. Hospitals, like the one my Laylie was in, are operating on generators, but fuel is running out. Even at that, they are not able to power air conditioning on the tropical island. Emergency surgeries are being performed in extreme heat.

I think of the medical teams that saved Laylie. I think of the church in San Juan who stood by side while I was stranded there with very sick baby. I think of how they are trapped on an island with no help.

I want to help them. I want to be there. I want to do something, anything. But all I can do is pray.

All I can do is pray.

I can pray.

I pray!

Why is that when these disasters strike we feel like all we can do is pray, as if that is a less-than contribution? Why do we feel like taking the names of saints to the throne of the Almighty King is something small? Why do we think that laying nations at the feet of the Sovereign Ruler is a minimal contribution?

Probably because we underestimate Him and we over-estimate our own ability to deliver.

If you are like me and sometimes feel like prayer to the Most High isn’t enough, read this. I “accidentally” happened upon these words while I was sitting in church on Sunday.

 Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
    for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
    for our God!
Fill in the valleys,
    and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
    and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
    The Lord has spoken!”