“He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people’s prayers for our safety have been answered.”
2 Corinthians 1:11 (NLT)
Two years have passed since Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of New Orleans and hundreds of coastline in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The rest of our country was stunned by the devastation.
During the weeks that followed, we became overwhelmed with the enormous task of rescuing, feeding, and housing the victims. We prayed for them but despite our prayers their plight filled us with anguish. We knew that our pitiful donations wouldn’t make a dent in the mountain of need. We knew that we couldn’t ignore our responsibilities and go there to give hands-on help. Many of us knew that we didn’t have any extra rooms to board a family or even one person. So, despite our helplessness, we prayed. Morning and night we prayed. When someone mentioned the Katrina disaster, we prayed. Every church service, someone would request prayer for the displaced families and we prayed. Prayer was our only tool for moving the mountain, so we used our tool.
Many shelters were set up and a list of items was published so that all Americans could be a part of the solution for the hurricane victims. Can openers, paper goods, canned foods, forks and spoons, diapers, and other non-food items that are essential to a family were the things listed. Freight trucks from all over the United States brought the donated items to the centers. We prayed for Katrina victims and gave Katrina Relief offerings at church. We prayed and donated requested items. We prayed and then did what we could. Our prayer tool was moving the mountain.
We should remember that victims recover faster from tragedies and disasters when they know others are praying for them. While hands-on, practical and material help must not be ignored or denied, let us also not forget the spiritual needs. Prayer is our most effective tool for moving the mountain of need.
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. O God, we are not physically able to supply all the needs of those who have requested our help, but our trust is not in our ability to supply physical needs. Our trust is in you, dear Father, who controls all things. We simply ask that you provide for all our needs and we give you thanks in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his riches in glory and pray for those in need,