By Dr. Greg Cochran, ICC Fellow

Not long ago, CNN published an article regarding the cultural emptiness of the phrase “Thoughts and prayers are with you.” Beyond a massive collage of memes equating the phrase with garbage, emptiness, or inaction, the CNN piece argued that — as a phrase — “thoughts and prayers” has reached the point of semantic satiation.   

“Semantic satiation is the phenomenon in which a word or phrase is repeated so often it loses its meaning. But it also becomes something ridiculous, a jumble of letters that feels alien on the tongue and reads like gibberish on paper. ‘Thoughts and prayers’ has reached that full semantic satiation.”  

The article quotes several people to bolster its contention that the phrase belongs in a linguistic garbage dump. The most audacious quote originates from a comedian who responds to the offering of “thoughts and prayers” with this profane retort:   

“‘Do you know what that’s worth? F***** nothing. F***** less than nothing. You are not giving any of your time, your money, or even your compassion.’ The audience roars and claps.”  

CNN quotes religious leaders, too, as if to make the case complete. A social media post features the Dali Lama saying, “Although I am a Buddhist monk, I am skeptical that prayers alone will achieve world peace. We need instead to be enthusiastic and self-confident in taking action.” Likewise, Pope Francis posted this: “Prayer that doesn’t lead to concrete action toward our brothers is a fruitless and incomplete prayer … Prayer and action must always be profoundly united.”   

In this increasingly skeptical culture, Christians continue to ask for and offer thoughts and prayers. Culturally, the question is fairly posed: What good are these thoughts and prayers when Christians around the world are seeing their daughters kidnapped, their houses burned, and their wives and mothers turned into weeping widows? Are Christians just mouthing empty phrases, deadened by semantic satiation?   

To answer the question, Christians look neither to ecumenical religious leaders nor late-night comedians. Rather, Christians tap into a source more durable than social media, seeking voices more enduring than those now glowing in the aura of a merely temporal spotlight. Like treasure seekers, Christians dive deeply into the eternal word of life and grab jewels from God’s own treasure chest regarding the value of prayer.   

When Christians agree to “pray for you,” they invoke the power of a personal relationship to the living, trinitarian God of the Old and New Testaments. The relationship is a living interaction with the various persons of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   

The Father establishes and ordains prayer as a means of accomplishing His will, commanding all who are called by His name to engage in the practice (1 Thess. 5:17). The Son acts as a priest, interceding always to mediate our prayers before the presence of God (Heb. 7:25, John 17, Rom. 8:34, 1 John 2:1). And the Holy Spirit comes alongside as a comforter, recalling the words of Christ for us and making sure to empower our prayers so they are received by Christ (Rom. 8:26-27, John 16:13-14).   

In short, “praying for you” becomes Christian stenography for trinitarian theology, unleashing the providential plans and power of the living God. Perhaps culturally, “praying for you” has become meaningless, but Christians cannot abide long in the supposition that prayer is “semantic satiation.” For Christians, prayer offers no less power today than in Elijah’s day when that prophet cried for drought and later for rain as a demonstration of the truth James writes about in the New Testament: The effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much.   

Therefore, Christians pray. And Christians ought to pray. And Christians should pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide. And when Christians pray, they are not praying in vain. The effectiveness of prayer is displayed by the fact that the first request from those suffering intense persecution is most often “pray for us.”   

The apostle Paul taught Christians the importance of prayer early in the formation of the Christian church. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, Paul speaks of a time when he and his companions suffered so greatly that they despaired life. Indeed, Paul says, they had given up — assuming this encounter in Asia would be their last on this earth. And yet Paul goes on to report that God raised them from the dead (with Christ’s resurrection power). Paul adds that this resurrection power from God was infused in them to give them new life through the Corinthians’ “joining in helping us through your prayers.” Paul concludes these verses with thanksgiving, noting that “thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.”   

Prayer, then, is definitely not nothing. Prayer unlocks the work of God and is instrumental in His accomplishing his will through his people. Prayer is a powerful work. Of course, International Christian Concern engages in many other good works on behalf of suffering Christians, but prayer remains a fundamental service needed (and requested) by those persecuted. So, we pray and give. And both works serve God’s people, accomplishing much. 

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