"Thoughts and Prayers"

Two days ago, a young football player by the name of Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after a tackle. Evidently, his heart had stopped, but he was revived. How did people react on social media?

“Thoughts and prayers.” Everywhere. Ubiquitous.

I am seriously disturbed when I see this example of virtue signaling. Why? The problem is that, in many, many cases, this phrase is meaningless. Allow me to explain.

What do people mean by saying the word “thoughts”? What is the connection between a sad or tragic situation and “thoughts”? Rationally, the very fact that a person remarks on anything in this world effectively means that some “thought” was involved – some brain activity was happening.

Now, linking the word “thoughts” with the word “prayers” might give the reader some insight into meaning. We all seem to know what “prayers” are – at least we know the outward expression (head bowed, hands folded, words muttered). Except that most of us know that this word is pretty meaningless to the average social media participant.

They ignore the fact that a prayer, to be a prayer, has to be directed towards Someone – God, or at least a more powerful Being than oneself. However, there is one detail in this general scenario: God has to actually exist in order to be prayed to. But few people point this simple fact out.

And this is where I throw up my hands at the silly virtue signaling that transpires when one wants to show the “right” kind of sympathy. Because, in addition to not really acknowledging that there is a God, and that He does, in fact, answer prayer, the phrase “thoughts and prayers” often have the word “to” appended to them, as in “thoughts and prayer [are directed] to…” What does this even mean?

Can a single thought change what is happening in another family or town or city? My experience says that it does not. Furthermore, how does one “pray to” another person? How does that supposed “prayer” have the power to affect another’s situation? I doubt very seriously that it can, even though people faithfully and religiously “thank everyone for their prayers.”

I believe that the Epistle of James addresses this very thing when he says:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2: 14 – 17).

Now I realize this Scriptural passage may only apply to people or situations that are within one’s reach. For instance, we can’t all flock to the stadium where Hamlin was stricken. But prayers directed “to” him and his family are powerless to affect the situation. Only heartfelt and sincere prayers directed to God can bear results.

Before the above passage, James points out: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1: 6 – 8).

So… do you get it? Without God, prayer is futile. Without faith, there can be no answer to prayer.

I would also suggest that to be afraid to mention God in such situations is a spiritually poor way to show love. Jesus said, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). I wonder if the persistence of “thoughts and prayers to…” falls within the range of this warning.

To summarize: What I am saying is that these expressions of sympathy need to have an authenticity that is, for the most part, missing. I would suggest that bringing God into the conversation should be paramount. People should not shy away from saying things like: “I will pray that God heals this person,” or “May God show you His mercy and love.”

May my thoughts provoke you to true prayer.