Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.—Matthew 18:19 (NIV)

Today, my back hurt, and my husband suggested I take an aspirin. “Nope,” I said. “I’ll wait until it’s really bad.” I have this crazy philosophy of not taking pain meds until the pain is the worst it will ever be and I truly can’t stand it any longer. Not a smart approach. 

Sadly, I sometimes apply the same theory to asking for prayer support. Recently, I was struggling with depression. I wanted to ask a few trusted friends to pray for me, but I decided my situation wasn’t really bad enough yet. I’d wait until the misery got unbearable before bothering anyone. 

Medical professionals say that when treating pain, it’s important to stay ahead of it. My philosophy of waiting until I’m sure it’s the worst it will ever be is the wrong approach. Equally, hesitating to ask for prayer support is not the best approach since Jesus calls believers to join in prayer for each other. I finally reached out to a few friends and confessed that depression was digging its claws into me and I needed help. Their prayers, supportive emails, and compassion lifted me over the deepest emotional potholes. 

Each time I am prayed for by others, my hope is rekindled and I witness the change Jesus brings. Each time I pray for friends, I rejoice in being part of His answer for them. It’s a beautiful dose of pain relief that can be administered early and often––no prescription required.