Prayer is Not Powerless

On Wednesday, August 27, tragedy struck Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. A gunman entered the building and opened fire. Within moments, two children were gone. Families are shattered. A school community is grieving. Parents across the nation shuddered as they imagined kissing their own children goodbye that morning, never dreaming it might be the last time.

This is not just another headline. These are not numbers. These are children: loved, cherished, and irreplaceable.

The Mayor’s Words
In the aftermath, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed the city. In his remarks, he said: “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.”

The intent was to call for more than words in response to violence. But the effect was something much deeper, and for Christians, deeply troubling. His words carried the implication that prayer failed. That in the moment those children prayed, heaven was silent. That prayer itself is powerless.

Why the Words Cut So Deep
Yes, those children were praying. And that is part of what makes this crime so unspeakable. The killer did not choose them at random—he targeted them because of their Christian faith. His manifesto, scrawled mockingly across a magazine, read, “Where is your God?”
To dismiss prayer in that moment is to echo the taunt of the murderer rather than to honor the faith of the victims. It adds insult to unbearable grief.

The Christian Response
For Christians, this is not just a misunderstanding. It is anti-Christian.
Prayer is not a slogan. It is not an excuse to avoid responsibility. Prayer is communion with the living God. Scripture reminds us again and again:

• “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17).
• “The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect” (James 5:16).
• “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

The Bible is full of examples of people who prayed and saw God act. Hannah prayed for a child, and God gave her Samuel (1 Samuel 1). Hezekiah prayed when Jerusalem was surrounded, and God delivered the city (2 Kings 19). The early church prayed for Peter’s release, and an angel opened the prison doors (Acts 12).

Most importantly, Jesus Himself prayed. Before choosing His apostles, “He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). In Gethsemane, on the night before His crucifixion, He prayed with tears. If prayer were powerless, why would the Son of God Himself pray?

Prayer and Action
It’s true: prayer does not mean tragedy will never strike. God has never promised that His people would be spared from every evil. What He has promised is that He hears, that He cares, and that He will redeem. Prayer is not wasted breath; it is the very way we cling to the God who sustains us.

And prayer is not a substitute for action. Real prayer leads to action. Nehemiah prayed before rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 1–2). The early church prayed for boldness and then went out to preach (Acts 4). Prayer doesn’t paralyze … it mobilizes. It shapes our hearts, strengthens our resolve, and opens the door for God to work through us.

The Families Who Grieve
As Christians, we cannot ignore the reality of loss. Two families now face the unimaginable pain of burying their children. No parent should ever walk that road. To them, words will never feel like enough. What they need is compassion, presence, and the comfort only God can give.

So we grieve with them. We pray for them, not with empty phrases, but with confidence that God draws near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). We pray because only He can bind up wounds too deep for human hands.

Why We Will Keep Praying
So when voices say prayer is a waste of time, Christians must answer with faith. We will keep praying, because our hope is not in politicians or policies, but in the Lord who reigns. We will keep praying, because prayer is not powerless; it calls on the One who holds all power in His hands.

And we will keep praying, because Jesus told us to: “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

Prayer is not powerless. It is our lifeline. It is our greatest strength. And in the darkest of times, it is the light that cannot be extinguished.