There Is Great Power In Knowing They Are Praying For Us

​I was in Chesapeake today speaking to school counselors about trauma and bullying, two topics quite intertwined.

Before speaking, and before introducing me, a young lady addressed the audience.

She told them she was glad to be back; it was her first day back on the job after a bit of a layoff. She told them how much she appreciated their cards and texts and phone messages. She told them she was thankful for their prayers, "they carried me", she said.

She told them her doctor asked her before starting her treatments if she had a strong support system. She responded to the doctor: oh, you have no idea, doctor.

I didn't know in the moment what she was going through, but her sense of connectedness with the room was overwhelming. Beautiful even in what felt like heaviness. It made it hard to get up and follow her brief welcome back moment.

At lunch I went up to her and told her that I had no idea what she was battling, but she could welcome me to her prayer chain. Stage 4 blood cancer she told me, but with a spirit and body that seemed every bit as healthy, if not healthier than mine, she said "I've got this."

You never know who you will encounter in a day - who God has decided you NEED to encounter in a day - but I needed to encounter this beautiful human in eastern Virginia.

I needed reminded that there is indeed great power in letting people know that we are praying for them. Sometimes people believe that before they believe God hears and answers them.

And I needed reminded, because I confess there are still days here and there when I do doubt it, but standing in her presence, I had no doubt whatsoever that - I've got this.