“Hannah, will you say the prayer for us tonight?”
“Uh, sure.” Oh no, oh no, what do I say? I didn’t prepare anything. Quick! Think of something intelligent! How short can I reasonably make this? I’m going to sound like a fool. I don’t even remember that person’s name…
Sound familiar? Public speaking is one of the most common fears—felt by something like ¾ of the population. As a true introvert, I shudder speaking even in front of small groups. If talking to mere mortals causes such fear, how frightening is it to address the Lord of Hosts in front of other people? Yikes!
Well, to quote a phrase that appears over 70 times in the King James Version of the Bible, “fear not.” Jesus left us with some lessons about prayer that might help relieve some of our anxiety.
First, God loves it when we pray in secret:
“’And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.’” (Matthew 6:5-8)
Prayer represents a private conversation between us and our Father. While there are occasions when we’re called on to pray aloud with other people, (whether for them specifically, to lead a group in prayer, to start a service, before a meal, etc.) we can infer from this passage that God doesn’t want us to concentrate on what others think of us because of our prayers. Prayer’s value doesn’t lie in “many words” or in how eloquently or loudly we pray in front of a group. Ultimately, we are talking to God, and if some others are listening in, well, let them.
If you’re like me, though, you have a hard time ignoring everybody else, and you still get nervous praying with others listening in. Happily, there’s a Helper for that. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them know what to say in times of stress: “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11). Praying in public may not compare to being arrested and tried, but we can still rely on the Holy Spirit to help us. After all, the Father “knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matt. 6:8). He isn’t bothered if you falter a little (or even a lot) in speaking to Him; you have His Spirit to intercede for you.
Now that restrictions are lifting, we all have to learn how to live with each other again. That means small groups, large groups, and yes, praying in public. So if that’s nerve-wracking for you like it is for me, remember that Jesus taught us not to worry about other people’s judgement when we pray and to rely on the Holy Spirit when we need words. And if you’re one of the few who don’t get nervous speaking in front of others, please be patient with the rest of us!
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