Foxhole Prayers

There are people in this world who keep a running dialogue with God about what’s going on in their lives. “Prayer is just conversation with God,” they say confidently enough. I know that kind of prayer and I try to live it regularly. You should be able to talk to God about everything. A God who numbers the hairs on our head shouldn’t mind hearing about a spelling test, burnt dinner or any number of things some people might call irrelevant.

But what if you haven’t talked to God much, or at all.  Maybe a quick “now-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep” or “come-Lord-Jesus-be our guest.” and then you’re hit with a devastating loss or a case of cancer or an emergency trip to the E.R.? Why shouldn’t you pray then and why couldn’t that prayer be powerful?

Playwright Matthew Lopez once referred to himself in The New York Times as a “foxhole Episcopalian.” Lopez went on to say:

“I don’t ever darken the door of a church unless something’s going terribly wrong.”

Foxhole faith may seem less then admirable to some, but I know it can be mighty powerful. Foxhole prayers are some of the richest kind we make.

Researcher Brené Brown, talked a little about this on a TED talk called “The Power of Vulnerability.” The uncomfortable truth of the matter is we’re at our best as humans when we allow ourselves to be most vulnerable, and there’s nothing more vulnerable-making than a foxhole.

Foxhole moments serve a purpose. “God only helps those who help themselves” is not in the Bible because it’s simply not true. God helps those who are willing to trust. God helps those who turn to him, no matter the reason or circumstances.

If your feeling vulnerable, don’t give up. There are no prayers more powerful then the ones from a foxhole.