Finding Hope in Prayer: Overcoming Suffering and Embracing Spiritual Growth

As I write this, many across the nation are grieving alongside families in Texas who lost loved ones to devastating floods. The toll keeps rising, now surpassing 100.

In another tragic event, over the Fourth of July weekend, gun violence took the lives of 189 people and injured 500 more. Last week, I traveled to support friends mourning the sudden loss of their 37-year-old daughter from an aortic aneurism. These events are heavy, and our city is marked by the anniversaries of two murders that claimed the lives of two women just a year apart.

These tragedies make me ponder the purpose of prayer. Does it truly ease our suffering? Personally, I can’t say I understand how prayer works. I don’t always receive what I ask for. Do you?

Perhaps prayer “works” because it helps us cultivate faith and compassion. It connects us to one another, leading us to responses that promote healing. Those who believe often turn to prayer during hardship, finding comfort in knowing others are there for them. My friends shared that our prayers didn’t erase their pain, but they did help lighten their load.

This notion of “suffering with” is at the heart of compassion. When we pray, our hearts open. By showing compassion, we draw closer to creating a prayerful response.

The world is filled with suffering, and we can always find ways to help—whether it’s rushing someone to the hospital or supporting an injured colleague. If we can actively relieve suffering, we should. It’s important to make changes for a safer and higher quality of life.

However, when we face suffering that appears senseless, we can look to Jesus. He accepted unimaginable pain on the cross, transforming it through the Resurrection into something meaningful. While we’re not Christ, we, too, can find light through our own struggles.

During the darkest days of the Iraq War, our Dominican community felt connected through shared prayers. Those prayers inspired some of us to take action and aid those in Iraq. Although not everyone could physically be there, our collective prayer led to intervention and advocacy, influencing policymakers and creating a discussion about the war at the global level.

Many of us may have experienced the ripple effect of prayer. When someone faces emergency surgery, we might feel moved to help by bringing meals or assisting with daily tasks.

Recently, a Dominican associate and her students visited a refugee camp in Kenya. They witnessed the heartbreaking consequences of reduced U.S. aid, which once provided sustenance for thousands. It was a painful reality. They are now reflecting on how to communicate these struggles effectively to spark change and bring awareness to policymakers. This clearly illustrates the relationship between prayer and action: prayer can inspire tangible actions that lead to positive outcomes.

“Prayer changes things”—a phrase that, while often seen on decorative pillows, holds a significant truth. It can alter our perspectives and inspire healing when we connect our prayers with intention and action.

For more insights on the importance of prayer and action, you might find this article from Psychology Today interesting.

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