Thoughts and Prayers

by Annie Yorty

What could be more natural than to offer thoughts and prayers for the victims of tragedy?

For much of human history, people offered prayers to God when tragedy struck. The prayers of family, friends, and even strangers comforted those who grieved. In more recent decades, our enlightened culture added thoughts to the prayers to accommodate those who don’t wish to acknowledge the God of heaven.

Over the last few months, however, I’ve noticed an increasingly blatant mockery of people who offer thoughts and prayers and, ultimately, of the God to whom they pray.

High Profile Commentary

On August 27, 2025, an individual shot children at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis during Mass. Two died and many others were injured and traumatized by this horrific act.

As the news of tragedy spread across social media, millions across the world wrote posts that offered thoughts and prayers. I’m sure many in the immediate community also stepped up to help with physical needs such as food, finances, respite, and comfort.

Within twenty-four hours, cynics decried the expressions of sympathy and concern.

Jen Psaki, political pundit and former press secretary to President Biden, wrote on X, “Enough with the thoughts and prayers” (X, @jrpsaki, 8/27/2025).

The governor of California posted, “These children were literally praying as they got shot at”
(X, @gavinnewsom, 8/28/2025).

Both statements imply the God to whom we pray is impotent and unable to properly care for people. Stop looking to Him for solutions, they say, and rely only on human reasoning.

I’ve noticed an increasingly blatant mockery of people who offer thoughts and prayers and, ultimately, the God to whom they pray. #annieyorty #thoughtsandprayers #godhears #schoolshooting Share on X

Thoughts and Prayers

Before we identify the benefits of prayer in the wake of unspeakable tragedy, let’s define our terms.

Thoughts refer to our reasoning power with which we seriously consider a situation. When we hold someone in our thoughts, we remember their needs. We may develop an action plan to help. We employ rationality rather than feelings to benefit that person in their time of need.

Prayers involve communication with God. The praying person recognizes that human reasoning (aka thoughts) cannot solve the troubles of this world. But all-knowing God in heaven has understanding and power to intervene on behalf of those with needs.

The prophet Isaiah explains why our own thoughts should lead us to prayer.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT)

What good are your thoughts and prayers?

When we think about God’s thoughts and His character, we know Him better and trust Him more. When we pray and acknowledge truth about God and ourselves, we learn that He hears and responds to our needs.

7 Acknowledgements in Prayer

1. God created and sustains the universe and all life.

As Creator, God designed every part of this universe, including every individual who’s lived across all time. He knows the specifications of this world and each person, so we bow to His authority and ask Him for the information we need.

2. God created us to be part of His eternal plan.

Each of us is precious to our Creator. He knows us and loves us unconditionally. God also created us to be part of a purpose beyond ourselves. He weaves all the individual lives across all time into one master tapestry of His glory. We go to Him to understand our place and purpose in His plan.

3. We live in a spiritual, eternal reality.

A crisis often mires our minds in the here and now. Our attention fixates on looming problems, and we forget about the greatness of God, the One who promises to stay with us always.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God. (Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT)

When we pray, God reminds us of His eternal plans and His presence throughout our days.

4. We live in an inherently wicked culture.

The world around us is under the control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19b NLT)

The source of trouble and sorrow in this world is the evil one who opposes God. Since the day Satan enticed Eve in the Garden of Eden, he has delighted in wreaking havoc throughout creation, especially humans. When we acknowledge this truth to God in prayer, we agree with Him about sin and ask for His help to overcome.

5. We desperately need God’s mercy to cover our own sinful tendencies.

All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one. (Romans 3:12 NLT)

We all play our own part in the collective sin of the world around us. The sin nature born to us opposes the goodness of God. But when we confess our own sins along with the sins of our community, God pours out His mercy on the wounds caused by those transgressions.

6. We need God’s wisdom and power.

A cursory glance at the world news or our own family trees reminds us reliance on human wisdom nosedives the world into chaos. But all-knowing God creates the path of redemption and restoration. He has demonstrated His wisdom and power throughout human history, but never more than through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.

When we confess our dependence on God, He employs His wisdom and power for our good.

7. We are God’s ambassadors in troubled times.

A country’s ambassadors represent the nation around the world in both words and deeds. Likewise, God calls us to represent Him. When we pray and read the Bible, God tells us how and when to act.

Prayer as a First Resort

How often have you heard—perhaps even from yourself—these defeated words?

“I guess all I can do is pray.” Sigh.

So often prayer becomes a last resort in our minds. Something we do when we realize we can’t affect the outcome of a situation by our own devices. This thinking runs dangerously close to the opinion of the pundits who suppose prayer at a time of crisis is useless.

Make prayer a first resort in times of trouble, and even in times of peace.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2 NLT)

If you’re not sure what to say, begin with these seven acknowledgements and trust God’s Spirit to guide your thoughts and prayers to truth and hope.

Join the conversation:

How have you seen God act through your prayers in times of crisis?

We welcome your comments.

Copyright ©2025 Annie Yorty