Prayer Plus Care: Caring for Others is More than a Wish

Here at The Church Cares, we aim to nurture the congregational care helpers. That’s why we’re proud to offer free high-quality support to those who want to pray, care, and engage more effectively with the hurting world around them.

By Elisha Wisener

Linda isn’t a counselor. She’s not a pastor. She doesn’t have a psychology degree or a crisis line in her pocket.

But Linda is the person people in her church trust enough to say, “I’m not okay.”

Maybe you’re like her—faithful, willing, and just a little bit afraid you’ll get it wrong. You want to help someone walking through anxiety, depression, or emotional pain. But you also know that simply saying, “I’ll pray for you” can feel incomplete—even dismissive—when someone is hurting deeply.

Let’s be clear: prayer is powerful.   Let’s say that again “Prayer is Powerful”  

Never stop praying for the people who are struggling in your circle of ministry or influence.  It is the work of God to heal and comfort those who are in pain.

Prayer is not just a Wish

You don’t want to hear a problem and say “Ok, I’ll pray for you. Bye” and then walk away.   I call this a “Wish-prayer” where you don’t listen, don’t offer to help, or join in the suffering of others.  Seems that loving your neighbor is more than wish-prayers. 

At the same time, you want to pray AND engage in care ministry.  You can pray with

o what can Linda do? What can you do?

1. Pray With, Not Just For

It’s one thing to say, “I’ll be praying for you.” It’s another to pause, sit beside someone, and say, “Can I pray with you right now?” Your prayer doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t need to have the answers. A simple “God, we need you right here, right now,” is a holy act of solidarity.

Prayer is not a prescription; it’s a presence. Invite Jesus into the room, not as a fixer, but as Emmanuel—God with us.

2. Be a Faithful Listener

Linda has something incredibly valuable already: the ability to listen with compassion. According to the Church Cares CARE Framework, most of the emotional and spiritual needs in a church don’t require clinical intervention—they need relational support: loneliness, parenting stress, discouragement, anxiety, spiritual questions.

When you listen well, you’re helping someone feel seen. And being seen is often the beginning of healing.

3. Know Your Lane—And Stay in It With Confidence

You’re not expected to fix someone’s mental health. That’s not your lane. But you are invited to walk alongside, offering steady love and spiritual encouragement while professionals help with the deeper waters.

As our model says: "Lay leaders are essential—and uniquely positioned—to meet needs with wisdom, humility, and compassion".

You’re not a counselor. You are a caregiver. And that’s enough.

4. Create a Circle, Not a Cul-de-Sac

Good care doesn’t stop with you. It flows outward. Part of your role is helping someone know where else to turn if they need more. That might be a recovery group, a pastor, or a professional counselor.

It’s okay to say, “I’m so glad you shared this with me. I care about you—and I wonder if talking to someone with more training could help you even more.”

5. Remember That Jesus Was Present First

Jesus didn’t rush people past their pain. He sat with the grieving. He noticed the overlooked. He asked questions before offering help. 

Mark 10:51 says, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”   Note how Jesus asks the blind man what he needs. And he listened to him, and the blind man then followed Jesus. 

Repeatedly, Jesus would stop and ask people good, open questions.

When we show up and stay awhile, we reflect His heart.

You’re Already Doing the Most Important Thing

You care. You showed up. You didn’t shrink back because it felt complicated.

And yes, you prayed. Not to brush it all away, but to anchor the moment in God’s presence.

You are exactly the kind of person the hurting need.

Let your prayer be the beginning—not the end—of the care journey.