The Best Help For A Friend In Need
When someone you love is hurting, prayer is the best help you can offer. Learn what a story from Mark 2 teaches about praying boldly for a friend in need.
 Praying for someone who is hurting or in trouble is one of the most powerful things you can do for them. Today I want to share a story from the Book of Mark that has stayed with me for years, and what it teaches us about how to pray for the people we love.
What do you do when illness, tragedy, or hard times strike someone you know? It could be a friend, a family member, or even someone you simply hear about. Let me tell you about a man with a debilitating illness, and the friends who refused to give up on getting him help.
What can we do for the people we love when they’re struggling? How can we truly help?
I’ve been studying the Book of Mark, and one of my favorite stories begins in chapter 2. I think it has so much to say to us. When I first read it years ago, it struck me deeply, and it has stayed on my heart ever since.
The Story
Our story takes place in Capernaum, a town on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This little fishing village was Jesus’s home base during His three-year public ministry. By this point, Jesus had become well known throughout Israel and the surrounding areas for His healing and teaching.
On one particular day, He was at Peter’s home, and a great crowd gathered. Jesus was inside, teaching the word.
While Jesus was preaching, four men arrived at the house carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat. They had heard that Jesus could heal, but when they got there, they could not get near the door because of the crowds. What they did next is remarkable.
Those four men were not deterred by the crowds. Listen to what they did.
AND BEING UNABLE TO GET TO HIM (JESUS) BECAUSE OF THE CROWD, THEY REMOVED THE ROOF ABOVE HIM; AND WHEN THEY HAD DUG AN OPENING, THEY LET DOWN THE PALLET ON WHICH THE PARALYTIC WAS LYING. MARK 2:4
Can you picture it? These men climbing up onto the flat roof of an ancient seaside home. The roof was likely made of rough timber beams covered with a thick layer of mud plaster, with grass growing on top. Roofs like this were sturdy enough for people to sleep on and even worship there.
I wonder if Jesus and the crowd inside could hear the commotion above as the men tore into the roof. As they pulled away the grass and dug through the dried mud to make an opening large enough for a man and his mat, did the debris fall onto the people below? What was the reaction inside that crowded room?
I love thinking through the real-life details of Bible stories like this one.
Because of the determined action of these four men, the paralyzed man had his audience with Jesus, and he was healed. He walked away praising God. What an amazing story.
But here is what touches me most.
The Blessing Of Interceding
These men carried their friend in need to the only One who could do something about his condition. They brought him to Jesus.
Every time we pray for someone, a friend, a family member, or anyone in need, we are carrying them to the feet of Jesus. Can you relate to these men who dug through a mud roof just to get their friend to Jesus? They cared enough that a blocked door and a crowded room would not stand in their way.
It is a privilege to carry someone, through intercessory prayer, to the Throne of Grace.
The One Who Knows Us
Hebrews 4: 14-16 says…
SINCE THEN WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST WHO HAS PASSED THROUGH THE HEAVENS, JESUS THE SON OF GOD, LET US HOLD FAST TO OUR CONFESSION. FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO CANNOT SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESS, BUT ONE WHO HAS BEEN TEMPTED IN ALL THINGS AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN.
LET US THEREFORE, COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF OUR GRACIOUS GOD THAT WE MAY FIND MERCY AND GRACE IN OUR TIME OF NEED. Hebrews 4: 14-16
EFFECTIVE PRAYER
What the men in our story did for their paralyzed friend took real boldness.
James 5:16 says… Â
THEREFORE, CONFESS YOUR SINS TO ONE ANOTHER, AND PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER SO THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED. THE EFFECTIVE PRAYERS OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN CAN ACCOMPLISH MUCH.
Do not give up.
What if the friends of the paralyzed man had turned back once they saw the crowded door? He would never have been healed. They let nothing stop them. Not the crowds, not the roof, nothing. Do not underestimate the power of prayer. Do not underestimate what your prayer and your faith in the One you are praying to can accomplish.
Believe
Believe in God. Believe in Jesus, the Healer, the Son of God, and His miracle-working power. Watch for His nail-pierced hands to move in the situation you are praying about. Expect miracles. It may not look like the miracle you asked for, but He is always faithful to answer prayer in His perfect way.
Trust God. Trust Him fully.
Who Are You Praying For
Who are you bringing to Jesus on a mat today? This is a good verse to remember whenever someone you love needs your prayers.
LET US THEREFORE, COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF OUR GRACIOUS GOD THAT WE MAY FIND MERCY AND GRACE IN OUR TIME OF NEED. Hebrews 4:6
You might also like these posts about prayer:
HOW TO PRAY IN DIFFICULT TIMES
Have a blessed day!
Thank you Yvonne,
I truly believe in the power of prayer. Our Heavenly Father love and appreciate us when we think of others outside of ourselves. I always include my friends and family in my daily prayer.
We are commanded to pray for one another! Your friends and family are blessed!
Thank you, Yvonne, for the beautiful story. I have not heard or read that scripture before. I am a prayer. I pray for stalled people on the side of the road, I pray for friends, family, neighbors and those I don’t especially care for. I pray for myself to love those I don’t like. In time I do see prayers answered, not always as I had expected but God’s ways are so much better than mine. Thank you for the Sunday messages. Your faith makes your blog that much more special. May God bless you and your family!
Hi Sue, prayer warriors are such special people. Only when you get to heaven will you realize how many lives you touched!
Thank you for this affirmation. We have four people in need of cancer healing whom we are praying for. One has stage 4 lung cancer, one is healing from uterine surgery, one has a spot on her lung, undiagnosed at this time. I know my Lord can heal! I’ve been praying for peace, comfort and calm for them and their families. Thanks again; your emails are always encouraging. Vivianne
Vivianne, I prayed for them too in agreement with you.
This story touches home for me today. Our dear friend has been diagnosed with ALS. He has gone from avid hiker to unable to walk or stand in just 6 months. His family and our friends are heartbroken. Yesterday, I asked he and his wife’s permission to place them on the prayer chain of my church. They were grateful, and today I as part of our worship service our congregation lifted them in prayer. My friends were touched by this. Their prayers at this time is that the disease slows and does not move to the upper extremities and gives them more time. I believe in the power of prayer, too. I know he will not be healed, but if the prayers provide them any comfort, I am glad for that. Thank you for sharing each Sunday??
Hi Joyce, I prayed for your dear friend. Remember… the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous many availth much. James 5:16
Thank you, God bless??
Yvonne, I loved your post. It is a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. He knows all about those dear souls that we lift up to Him. May God continue to bless you in a special way, Yvonne, as you share your wonderful Sunday posts with us. I appreciate you so much — and thank God for you.
Yvonne, thank you always for enormous daily grace you give to us. We are so appreciative to be reminded of God’s glow so wish I could print this without all of the ads. There must be a way but my grandchildren have grown up and off to college, thus no help.
Thank you for sharing, for caring and most of all for your prayers.
In Him,
Judy
Hi Judy, you should cut and paste the paragraphs into a new document. So sweet to think of things to help your grands stay spiritually strong.
Thank so much for this post. I often pray to God for various reasons. I focus on making sure not to become selfish in my prayers to God as well. For tge most part, I try hard to act in harmony with my prayers to God.
Have a happy Sunday!
Joyce’s story touched me. I shared with my friends. My friends were touched by this. Our prayers at this time is that the disease dies and does not move to the upper extremities. We believe in the power of prayer, too. Thank you for sharing each Sunday!!
Thanks for today’s post. I truly believe God hears our every word and guides our path through life. It is a wonderful feeling when we can come to the Lord in prayer and share our thoughts with him.
What a meaningful and beautiful scripture to read this morning.
What perfect timing for your post. The people affected by hurricanes and storms deserve our prayers. Many have lost homes, family members, pets, jobs and income. They need our prayers for encouragement to endure the hardships of rebuilding, etc. they are faced with. We have kin in Tennessee and Carolina who face lots of challenges. Our grandson has been hospitalized and another young man is recovering from injuries. Thanks for your reminder to pray for others.
Thank you. I really needed this.
My 34 year old niece has metastatic breast cancer. She has 4 children, ages 3 to 11 and a husband and many family members who love her dearly. Please pray for healing.