When gossip is disguised as prayer

‘How many of us ask more questions than we really need when someone asks us for prayer. Do we really have to know the intricacies of the situation when God knows all and we can lay it before him?’ asks Samantha Bailie-McMurdock.

I was recently placed in a rather uncomfortable position. A close friend (whom we’ll call Eleanor) confided in me a very private matter regarding her son. Being part of a wider circle of Christian women who sensed something wasn’t quite right, I found the stratagem of one lady (whom we’ll call Lily) particularly jarring. Text messages started to arrive,

“Is *Eleanor alright?”

“She just has a few personal issues right now, I replied.

“I’ll pray for her. What’s going on?”

“I’d prefer not to say if you don’t mind” I answered.

“I’ll need to know if you want me to pray,” Lily responded.