Pray. Right Then, Right There.

At some time, we have all found ourselves in this situation. A friend or family member is sharing something important, sensitive, or even tragic with you. After listening openly and compassionately, the time comes for the conversation to end.

Awkwardness ensues. You may think to yourself, “How do I end this conversation the right way? It feels weird to just get up and walk away.” Often as Christians, we lean toward prayer as a way of showing our extended care for the individual. To diminish the awkwardness we may say something like this. “I’ll be praying for you.“ Very good. Trust your instincts toward prayer.

So, did you do it?

Did you pray? I certainly hope you did, and I am confident that many of you do indeed set aside time to pray for many and various people and situations. However, knowing myself and our sinful human condition, I can say with confidence that many times our promise to pray is greater than the reality of our prayer. We lead busy lives and can easily forget our promise to pray. This is why I would like to encourage you to take the courageous step of praying with the person right then, right there.

Right then, right there?

Yes, right then, right there. Here’s a question. Why do you think that moment is so awkward after you’ve heard someone share important things with you? Chances are, the things you talked about were bigger than either of you could handle yourselves. So, what do we do when important matters are beyond our control? We take it to the One who has all the control, right then, right there.

I sense this becoming a rather anxiety-provoking article. Perhaps you are saying to yourself, “But… but… praying out loud with someone is so… awkward!” Perfect! It’s already an awkward moment. So, pick your awkwardness. You can choose the awkwardness of just walking away or leaving the conversation with the promise of prayer, or you can choose the awkwardness of praying with the person right then, right there. Any option is plenty awkward, but I can tell you with confidence, and from years of experience, that praying WITH someone melts the awkwardness away.

Something remarkable happens in our hearts when we submit our lives and our circumstances to God in prayer. Sometimes in the middle of the prayer the tears flow. At other times in the prayer, we may both be laughing out loud. Sometimes it even happens in the same prayer! However, every time I have chosen to end a conversation by praying WITH someone I have found a peace that is simply indescribable. I feel a deeper connection with that person. Even later, my private prayers for that person flow more freely having prayed WITH the person right then, right there.

It’s even become my new favorite evangelism technique. In multiple places and settings I’ll simply ask some unsuspecting person if he or she has a prayer request. It’s shocking how many people stop, think and proceed to drop some deep, challenging life situation. After a few follow-up questions and some attentive listening, there’s this awkward moment when it feels like the conversation is over. What should I do in this awkward moment?

Pray. Right then, right there.