Praying In CommunityExemplo

Relying on God Together

When Paul, together with Timothy, wrote his second letter to the church in Corinth, he describes a desperate situation. He says that they had been burdened “beyond their strength,” to the point that they “despaired of life itself.” Can you imagine what kind of intense persecution it would take to bring a man like Paul to the brink? To the point where his strength was tapped out and he felt he had nothing left to give?

As Paul writes, however, he is able to see God’s hand in it all. He says that God brought him through this struggle so they would learn to rely not on themselves, but on God. But he continues to ask for prayer: “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” What a remarkable request!

In asking the Corinthians to pray for him, Paul foresees that a blessing will be granted to him “through the prayers of many.” Certainly God listened to Paul’s own prayers. But he wants the Corinthians to pray together, and together to pray with him, so that God would work in some unique way through that. 

This, again, is the body of Christ suffering and rejoicing together. Paul’s real concern here is that he would rely ever more upon God. And by engaging the Corinthian church in community prayer, Paul was inviting them to rely on God together with him. We miss these opportunities when we neglect to prayer together. The more we join one another in prayer, the more our eyes and hearts are open to what God is doing around us.