As a former economist and current pastor, I was intrigued by an article in the news with this attention-grabbing headline: “Not everybody wants thoughts and prayers after a disaster, according to a study of hurricane survivors.” (https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/16/health/thoughts-prayers-study-wellness-trnd/index.html)
One of the authors of this study said this: “The idea came from the mere observation of how frequently these gestures are used … and yet how controversial they seem to be, as shown by the heated debate in the US about the value of thoughts and prayers in the wake of disasters … As a result, we wanted to find out how people actually value these frequently used gestures.”
Researchers focused on more than 400 residents in North Carolina (the state where I live) following Hurricane Florence’s destruction in 2018. And what they discovered is that while Christians value offers of prayer from religious people, some atheists and agnostics would pay money to avoid having people pray for them.
This study is just one example of the controversy surrounding “thoughts and prayers” these days. One of the reasons for this, it seems to me, is that many people see “thoughts and prayers” as a way of avoiding taking actual action. The top definition in urbandictionary.com for “thoughts and prayers” is this: “An expression of indifference to tragedy intended to seem empathetic … Hollow gestures trivializing loss.” (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Thoughts%20and%20prayers )
How unfortunate! And, if we’re honest, we can acknowledge that perhaps there have been times when we ourselves have offered “thoughts and prayers” intending to seem empathetic, but without a sincere desire to do anything concrete. It’s so easy to offer our thoughts and prayers and then move on without giving it, well, another thought.
But what if everyone who offered their thoughts and prayers really thought about it (whatever “it” is) and really prayed about it? What if we spent some time really thinking about a particular issue, rather than just listening to everyone else’s opinions about it, and then spent some time really talking and listening to God about it?
I think that would be incredible, because I truly believe that our thoughts and prayers – when we are really thinking and praying about something – can and often do lead to concrete action. Prayer – genuine, sincere, prayer – often changes our thoughts, which inevitably changes our actions. Prayer may not always change God, but it will always change us. As Paul puts it in his Letter to the Romans: “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) That is what prayer does – it renews our minds and helps us to discern the will of God. And this changes how we live our lives.
Thoughts and prayers, in other words, matter, because thoughts lead to action, and because prayers invite God to change our thoughts and actions.
So, I plan to continue offering my thoughts and prayers to people in this world who want and need them. And I plan to continue thinking and praying about the important issues in our world. But when I do these things, I am also going to make sure that I really am thinking and praying about these things, and I am going to try to always be open to the changes that God might bring about in me through these same thoughts and prayers.
My Pastoral Ponderings 
“Our thoughts and prayers” are with the people of______as they deal with this mass shooting. So glibly falling off the tongues of politicians, when their votes fail to back it up. I can only consider the insincerity of the remark and the speaker.
“If there’s anything i can do, just call” is another of those phrases. Perhaps it is said to indicate a willingness to help when help would be futile. And maybe good intentions are there, but we know where that road leads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the comment, Al. What I was trying to do in this post is focus on what I can control: the sincerity of my remarks, and the powerful effect that really thinking and praying about something can have on me, and on all who do this. But the phrase certainly has been used insincerely.
“If there’s anything I can, just call” reminds me of a time I said that to someone in the hospital, and they jokingly replied, “You can cut my grass.” The next time I saw that person, I said “Other than cutting your grass, if there is anything I can do, just call.” Sometimes, the best thing we can do for a person who is hurting is what Job’s friends did: “They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” (Job 2:13)
LikeLike
This comment is a little late in coming, but to me our thoughts in such times should be centered on “What can I do, practically, to help out? Lumber, saws, fried chicken, round up more volunteers, or just offer some company (fellowship)?” Our prayers should be centered on “What do you want me to do / pray / say about this, Lord?” And then listening for the answer and obeying it. If those things don’t happen, “Thoughts and prayers” just aren’t worth the breath it takes to say them. My take on prayer is “Ask God what He wants prayed; pray that.” Thanks for the article, pastor. From a fellow blogger, Bette Cox, Florence, SC. (https://estherspetition.wordpress.com)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the comment, Bette. It was fun to re-visit this post, one of the first that I published on this blog. As I tried to say there, and what I still believe, is that it is difficult for me to think of anything more important for us Christians than what we think and what we pray, because both will directly impact how we act and what we do. If our thoughts and prayers don’t lead to concrete action, especially for our neighbor in need, than you’re right – they probably aren’t worth the breath it takes to say them. But if we are really, truly, thinking and praying about a particular situation, then I believe it will always end up in loving God and loving neighbor, and often in practical ways.
Blessings to you, and I look forward to spending some time with your blog.
Peace in Christ, James
LikeLike