Want to pray for the world? Start here.
I was thinking about the war in Iran when I asked my Christian Science Sunday School students this question: “Do you see yourself as capable of healing the way Jesus did?”
One made a face that summed up everyone’s feelings, and we all laughed. It was a face that said, “Um, hardly.”
But we agreed: It was a question that was worth thinking about. Especially since Jesus told us that we could heal the way he did—and do even greater works. Could that include having a healing impact on what happens when a war breaks out?
Jesus told us that we could heal the way he did—and do even greater works. Could that include having a healing impact on what happens when a war breaks out?
Christ Jesus wasn’t overwhelmed by the big problems he faced—and was even able to heal them—for two reasons. First, he knew what God is. And second, he knew who he was as the Son of God. With this understanding, nothing could stop him. Similarly, the issue for us is whether we’re starting our prayers from this standpoint: fully aware of what God is, and fully embracing who we are as His children.
Our class felt pretty confident about knowing what God is. Two books we learn from in Sunday School—the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy—tell us everything we need to know about God’s nature. God is infinite Love, the all-knowing Mind. God is omnipotence, omnipresence. And God is both good and All—meaning there’s no place or space for anything harmful, oppressive, or bad.
Prayer helps us understand God in a way that makes us so sure of His goodness that it replaces any fear or worry that something bad could exist. But sometimes, before we can even get there, anxiety or disbelief creeps in and says, “Yeah, but who am I to think I could pray effectively enough that my prayer can make a difference here?” That’s when it helps to know what it means to be God’s child.
I was praying about this later, because I realized that “God’s child” felt like just words to me. And as I prayed, it was like my thoughts were a room where the lights were going from low and dim to full and bright.
God showed me how a really little child learns everything about who they are from their parents. All he or she knows about their identity comes from Mom and Dad. This was spiritually significant because it showed me that what we think of ourselves—as capable or not—is completely irrelevant. It’s only what God, our divine Father-Mother, knows of us that could be real or true. God sees us as He made us: reflecting clarity, compassion, insight, and strength.
God also showed me that a child relies completely on his or her parents. Doesn’t feel responsible. Gets to be the recipient of goodness and love—doesn’t have to create them. This helped me not feel overwhelmed about praying for the world, because I got it that my job was to see what God has already done for everyone. I didn’t have to make things OK, but accept that the Father-Mother of all of us was the One maintaining, protecting, and loving His whole creation.
Seeing the results I’ve had in my own life, I know I’m able to pray about these bigger things, too.
Feeling in such a new, convincing way who I am turned out to be a big boost for my prayers. In the days that have followed, I’ve noticed how I feel equipped to deal with problems, big and small, that come up in my own life. In fact, at one point when I faced a disturbing issue that seemed like it didn’t have a solution, I responded almost automatically by remembering that I’m a child of God—and all that implies. To my surprise, I felt what I can only describe as the peace of God’s presence—and then got an immediate idea that showed me exactly how to solve the problem.
My prayers about the war in Iran have also been strengthened. I’ve needed to be consistent about praying; it seems like there are distressing details to confront each day. But seeing the results I’ve had in my own life, I know I’m able to pray about these bigger things, too. I feel strengthened to pray more broadly by starting with who I really am spiritually and understanding that from there, I am free to expect the same immediacy of God’s power, and its healing effects for all of us, that Jesus showed us through his healings.
We may feel we have a long way to go in doing those “greater works” that Jesus promised we would do, and bringing healing to the world. But knowing we have a place to start—and then starting? That has to make a difference: for the conflict in Iran, and for any other problem to which we want to bring healing.
