Spending your prayers on strangers: Isn’t that wasteful?
I find it relatively easy to pray for those I love or those who have asked for my prayers. But, have you ever felt a prompting to pray for someone you only know by association, at best? Perhaps someone whose name you don’t even know?
Feeling Prompted to Pray
Several times in my life, I experienced this with amazing intensity and urgency. A few years ago, my mom shared with me that the nineteen-year-old grandson of a friend of hers had been living with cancer for a few years and was not doing well. I knew there was not much I could do for him except pray. I thought I would forget about it after a few days but for some reason, he kept coming to mind.
I started thinking of specific ways I could pray for him, and I wondered how I could show his grandma that I was indeed praying. Around that same time, I learned what a spiritual bouquet was so I started making a list of Masses, novenas, and rosaries that I would offer for him. I liked the specificity of this idea, but I never actually shared it with her or her grandson because I was worried they would find it odd.
As his condition worsened, I asked God for just one thing: to let me see him and talk to him before he died. I don’t know what I was thinking. I would have no idea what to say to him. I don’t typically have these kinds of encouraging conversations with people, especially strangers. Plus, I would have had to travel out of the country amid a bunch of work commitments. I pleaded with God to give him more time, so I could see him during Christmas break, but he passed away before I ever had a chance to talk to him or let his grandma know that I was praying for him. Was it all a waste?
Another Experience of Urgent Prayer
Fast forward a few years, and I learned about another young man, a friend of a friend, who was also dying of cancer. I started praying for him as soon as I found out. One night, after hearing that the doctors said nothing more could be done, I felt a compelling urge to pray for him. It was an overwhelming plea that I couldn’t resist making. Surprisingly, I didn’t ask for his healing, but that God would forgive him, letting him experience a sense of true peace before dying, to reconcile this young man back to himself. The next morning I received a text from my friend thanking me for my prayers and saying that the young man had passed away that dawn. I took comfort in knowing he had received Anointing of the Sick a few weeks earlier and trusted that he died in peace.
Was My Prayer Fruitful?
What could have prompted me to pray for these people as I did? I’m still not sure. But what I do know is that when we pray for others from the depth of our hearts, God hears our prayers, acts on them, and causes them to bear great fruit. Even when we don’t get the outcome we were hoping for, even when the person doesn’t know we were praying for them, we can rest assured that graces were gained, hearts were transformed, and our prayers were not wasted.
Praying for others out of earnest concern for their well-being is an act of pure love. It is a habit of discipleship that is fully other-centered. When we become humble, forget about ourselves for a moment, put aside our own needs and cries for help, and focus on the other, we take on God’s character. We imitate his unsurpassed generosity. And, while we do it for others, it is so life-giving. “Wasting” our time, our heart, and our prayers for others makes us more fully disciples of Jesus and leads us on the path to greater holiness.
Adriana Rivera is an Associate Content Creator at the Evangelical Catholic. The Evangelical Catholic’s mission is to equip Catholics to live out the Great Commission. Learn more.
