offering prayer instead of love

Have you ever been in pain and you finally get the courage to tell someone and the only response they give you is, "I'll pray for you."

I am guilty of this. I've done this to my students. It's happened for a variety of reasons - I don't know how to handle that situation, I don't know that student very well, they are not really inviting me in at that moment.

However, I have also been on the other side - the hurt side. I have been the person crying out to someone - anyone really - to bring me out of my isolation and their response to me was "I'll pray for you." I wanted to respond... I don't want your prayer - I want your attention. I have no doubt that this person will be praying for me, but what I wanted was that person to be the answer to my prayers.

The very statement of "I'll pray for you" felt like a rejection. I hear that you are struggling, but I am too busy to stop what I am doing to listen and hurt with you. I'll pray for you - when it's convenient for me." I don't remember Jesus doing anything like that. When people came to him, he paid attention. He acted in that moment. He prayed for them, but often when he prayed it was in their presence. "Let me pray with you" rather than "let me pray for you." I think that one word change would have completely changed my mood that day. To have someone take the time at the moment of my need and acknowledge to me and to the Lord.

Love is not convenient. Ministry messes with your life - in the best possible way. As Bonhoeffer said, "We must allow ourselves to be interrupted by God."