“Trust in the power of prayer, even when we cannot see the outcome.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 4, 2025
You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:11
Two summers ago, suspicions arose that I might have cancer. I didn’t believe it, didn’t want to believe it, and didn’t know what to think, feel, or pray. Overwhelmed, I retreated to the back deck of our home with my Bible. There, a passage leaped off the page and spoke to my heart.
Second Corinthians opens with Paul sharing openly about the desperate burdens he and his team faced during their journey to Asia. These trials were so intense, Paul confessed, that they “despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8).
I could relate.
But Paul didn’t stop there. He went on to share how these burdens forced him to rely not on his own strength but on God — the God who raises the dead. He testified that this same God, who had delivered him before, would surely deliver him again. Paul’s confidence in God’s continued protection was unwavering.
And how would God deliver him? What was the source of Paul’s confidence? At least in part, through the prayers of His people. Paul trusted that because the people of Corinth were praying for him, God would intervene and deliver him, “so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many” (2 Corinthians 1:11).
This Scripture has become an anchor for me in the months since. I return to it time and time again to find encouragement and strength, knowing I’m not alone in my journey. I can personally testify to the power and effectiveness of God’s people lifting me up in prayer.
Do you believe — truly believe — in the power of prayer?
Sometimes, it’s easy to doubt its effectiveness, especially when our cries aren’t answered in the way our heart desires. But Scripture reminds us that prayer is not limited to what we can see with our human eyes. When we pray, we engage in the supernatural. Angels listen. The Father hears every word. Jesus knows our hearts. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we pray “through the veil,” and it is powerful.
The “prayers of the many” have sustained me in ways I can’t even begin to describe. Jesus has surrounded me with people who constantly remind me of His goodness. I call this cherished group my “prayer posse,” and they have been an extraordinary blessing.
Not only have I experienced the power of their prayers, but I’ve also been encouraged through their actions—thoughtful phone calls, heartfelt emails, uplifting texts, cards, music, strong hugs, meaningful gifts, and even financial support. These gestures have often arrived at surprising and much-needed moments.
Paul, too, surrounded himself with a community of believers. He didn’t hesitate to ask for their prayers and support. Yet, when life gets tough and the storms come, many of us tend to isolate ourselves. We hide our struggles, reluctant to be vulnerable or to seek help.
But Paul’s example teaches us that God doesn’t want us to endure hardships in isolation. He calls us to be part of a community —a “posse”— where we can uplift and support one another. When we avoid leaning on others, we miss out on experiencing the fullness of God’s love expressed through His people.
I’ll never forget one particular moment last year. I was sitting near the altar of a historic church in St. Louis, unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair. Feeling alone, I cried out to Jesus for healing. At that exact moment, a flood of emails from my “prayer posse” arrived, encouraging me to keep fighting and reminding me of their prayers. Just like Paul described, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the “prayers of many.” That moment brought me to tears, and I will carry it with me forever.
And then, to the glory of God and through your prayers —the prayers of the Wisdom Hunters family— I stood up from that wheelchair about a month later. Like Paul, I give thanks to God for the “prayers of many.”
Today, I find myself in another challenging place in my cancer journey. So I’m asking to enlist my “posse” again. Can I humbly ask you to continue praying—not just for me, but also for your loved ones and even for your enemies? Like Paul, I want to have the same kind of confidence that if many are praying, blessings will come. In times of crisis, prayers are never unheard. Through the noise, Jesus listens.
Prayer
Lord, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude and hope. You are the God who raises the dead, the One who delivers and sustains us in our deepest trials. Thank You for Your faithfulness, which shines through even in the darkest moments.
Help us to trust in the power of prayer, even when we cannot see the outcome. Teach us to rely on You and to invite a “posse” of others into our struggles so that we might experience the fullness of Your grace and love through community.
We pray this with confidence, knowing that You hear us, that Jesus intercedes for us, and that the Holy Spirit guides us.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
When is the last time you prayed – really prayed – with confidence that the Lord will see you through a burden that almost makes you “despair of life itself?” Be vulnerable and invite others to join your posse and pray with you through the trial.
Related Reading
Psalm 61: 2-3; Philippians 4:6-7; James 5:13-16
Worship Resource
Crowder: Somebody Prayed
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