“We must pray when prayer seems dry as dust;
we must write when we are physically tired,
when our hearts are heavy, when our bodies are in pain.”
Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water.
Is there a place in your life that seems utterly hopeless? A relationship? Your finances? Your health? Your future? This nation’s future? When hopelessness rears its discouraging head, what do you do? It’s often said, “All we can do is pray,” but sometimes that doesn’t seem like much. Check out this story Dutch Sheets shared at https://www.givehim15.com/post/july-14-2022.
“I have often heard the phrase “All we can do is pray.” That misguided statement reminds me of the amazing role played by some Czechs in World War II. Craig Larson offers this retelling of Elmer Bendiner’s account of one bombing run over the German city of Kassel, which Bendiner describes in his book The Fall of Fortresses:
“Our B-17 (The Tondelayo) was barraged by flack from Nazi anti-aircraft guns. That was not unusual, but on this particular occasion our gas tanks were hit. Later, as I reflected on the miracle of a twenty-millimeter shell piercing the fuel tank without touching off an explosion our pilot, Bohn Fawkes, told me it was not quite that simple.
“On the morning following the raid, Bohn had gone down to ask our crew chief for that shell as a souvenir of unbelievable luck. The crew chief told Bohn that not just one shell but eleven had been found in the gas tanks – eleven unexploded shells where only one was sufficient to blast us out of the sky. It was as if the sea had been parted for us. Even after thirty-five years, so awesome an event leaves me shaken, especially after I heard the rest of the story from Bohn.
“He was told that the shells had been sent to the armorers to be defused. The armorers told him that Intelligence had picked them up. They could not say why at the time, but Bohn eventually sought out the answer. Apparently when the armorers opened each of those shells, they found no explosive charge. They were as clean as a whistle and just as harmless. Empty? Not all of them.
“One contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it was scrawled in Czech. The Intelligence people scoured our base for a man who could read Czech. Eventually, they found one to decipher the note. It caused us to marvel. Translated, the note read: ‘This is all we can do for you now.’”(1)
“All we can do? The pilots on that B-17 certainly did not have a small opinion of what those Czechs had done. Nor did the wives, children, or grandchildren of those soldiers. Not to mention other lives they saved by helping deliver the world from Adolf Hitler.
“I sometimes think of this story when I hear people bemoan their helplessness or lack of contribution as they announce, “All we can do is pray.” What better activity could a person possibly do? We can impact the world, secure destinies, and affect eternity through prayer.”*
God,
Thank you for the courage with which you have infused your people through the ages. Thank you for your vision for life that Holy Spirit gives to us as we seek you. Help us to see the trials, temptations, and genuine struggles of this life as opportunities to trust you anew, to seek your face, and to lean into you for vision, wisdom, direction, and courage. Help us to pray, even when we are discouraged and it seems dry as dust, and to know that our prayers are heard. Give us the faith and courage of the Czechs to know that even if prayer “is all we can do,” that you honor that and will use it for your Kingdom and your Glory. We pray in Jesus’s name, Amen.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)
“In the days of His earthly life, Jesus offered up both [specific] petitions and [urgent] supplications [for that which He needed] with fervent crying and tears to the One who was [always] able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission toward God [His sinlessness and His unfailing determination to do the Father’s will].” (Hebrews 5:7 AMP)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:2-5 NIV)
*Larson “Servanthood #624.” 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers, and Writers, pp 502-503.