Prayer Chain...or Wildfire?

Recently, the disappointing news was delivered. Diann Hunt, my sweet and treasured friend who had fought against ovarian cancer and won, would now be thrust back into the battlefield to wage war against the disease once again. She was scared, and I tried to encourage her ... but the truth is I was scared, too. I fought my own battle against the disease, and no matter how much time passes you always wonder and fear the return. Seeing Diann pushed back into the fight was devastating.

When we hung up after that first phone call where she shared what was ahead for her, I cried. A lot. For an hour. I yelled at God and asked Him WHY!? This woman is one of the most uplifting, God-loving women I know, and it seems so unfair to me that she has to do this again. And I'll admit to you that, despite my love and concern for Diann, my reaction was not completely unselfish. I also fearfully pleaded with God not to let me find myself on that battlefield ever again. Cancer is something you never forget. Never.

That night, I posted a notice on Facebook saying that I planned to start praying for Diann every day. If anyone wanted to join me, they could email me privately. WELL. 20 women responded within a few hours ... and the Accidental Warriors prayer chain was born.

Prayer is such a powerful thing, isn't it? I was reminded of that fact when our corporate concern for Diann spread like wildfire in dry brush. Within just a couple of days, I realized this was going to be much bigger than I'd anticipated. I formed a group on yahoo so that this prayer loop could thrive. And thrive they have!

Just a few days after we'd begun, I found myself sitting in the emergency room, and I called my friend Marian to tell her about it. "Ask the group to pray for me, would you?" I suggested. "I'm really scared."

By the time I got home and checked my email, the loop was blazing with prayers for me, encouraging me, concerned for me. What a relief that was! And that's the way the little prayer chain has exploded in the month or two since. Diann is still at the forefront of the prayers, but so are the children, neighbors, friends, even acquaintances of the women involved. Two weeks ago, we began praying for my boss' grandma who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer at an advanced age; for Janice Thompson's granddaughter after her accident; for a son who needed a job, a neighbor suffering abuse... That little spark (love for Diann Hunt) has ignited an unstoppable fire of prayer support!

As for Diann? She's become part of the loop too. As she fights her own battle, she also fights the battles of others by praying for them. And me? Well, I'm still worried, for her and for me. For any woman who has ever heard the word "cancer" as part of their diagnosis.

But I'm reminded of Elijah. The guy saw a powerful move of God in answer to his prayers. "Show them who You are, Lord," he prayed, and the Lord sent down a dramatic show of fire. What a joy to experience answered prayer like that! But not long afterward, Jezebel turned on Elijah, and instead of remembering what God can do, what God DID do, what did Elijah do? He ran for his life. He ended up in a mountain cave, hiding in fear. When God came to him there, He asked, "Yo, Elijah. What are you doing here?" Why was he hiding in fear? Didn't he remember what God is capable of?

Why do we do that?

So every morning, I remind myself. He is a healer, a restorer, a loving Father with a plan for our lives that He's confirmed again and again. It helps me. And it inspires me to continue praying.

Meanwhile, I've had to put the Accidental Warriors prayer loop on digest because it generates so much email that I've had a hard time keeping up with my inbox! On my busy days, they are still praying. Other days, I pray along with them. What a privilege to be part of spreading the fire of prayer! And it all started with love for a friend.

But that's really how everything starts, isn't it?