Can you imagine how different our nation would be if every citizen prayed?
It’s a beautiful thought — and a reality that we’re drawing closer to every day.
According to a recent study, the pandemic has driven more than half of Americans to prayer, even those who previously identified as non-religious.
The Pew Research Center has released a study describing Americans’ behavior during the time of the coronavirus and it showed interesting results.
According to the study, most Americans admitted that their personal life has changed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Nearly half of all Americans have experienced major changes to their lifestyle in the past several weeks.
In light of the CDC’s social distancing guidelines, a majority of Americans are now working from home and cutting down on “mundane daily activities” like visiting friends or eating out in restaurants.
Discomfort and uneasiness are spreading quickly across the nation as citizens in all states find themselves in danger of infection.
But the spread of the virus has not only impacted citizens’ social mindsets—it’s also changing the religious behaviors of people across the country.
The study reported that more than half of all adults in the United States say they have prayed for an end to the spread of COVID-19!
According to the study, adherents of many major religions said that “they have prayed to end the virus.” Religious people of all ages and races admitted they have asked God to end the outbreak and bring healing to the sick.
And American Christians have also said that they’re praying more than ever as the pandemic spreads.
But it’s not just the religious who are praying. A large percentage of atheists, agnostics, and people who describe their religion as “nothing in particular” admitted they have prayed about the coronavirus.
That’s right—even those “who say they seldom or never pray and people who say they do not belong to any religion” are turning to prayer as a comfort in this time of uncertainty and fear!
It’s a silver lining to an otherwise dark situation and proof that God is still working to bring people closer to Him – imagine the revival that could occur as a result of this outbreak!
The study also found that, even though most churches have cancelled in-person services for the time being, congregants have continued to attend online religious services faithfully.
COVID-19 may stop us from going outside, but it won’t halt our worship!
In light of the Pew Research Center’s study results, President Trump considers prayer to be of utmost importance during this season.
Trump and Vice President Pence recently joined in on a nationwide conference call to pray with over 700 pastors, and Pence recently made a point of praying with the Coronavirus Task Force.
The President and his team have encouraged pastors, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens to continue praying for the country and the world, and it seems that citizens in every walk of life are heeding the call.
Doctors and nurses are among those who have reported praying more often, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof.
In response to the study and the presidential call for prayer, medical teams across the country have begun sharing images of their staff praying on hospital rooftops.
“This is how we started our morning today,” said Danny Rodriguez, a tech at Florida’s Jackson South Medical Center, as he shared an image of nurses praying on the hospital’s helipad.
“Our team said a prayer, asking God for guidance and protection while we are at work, and to keep us and our families safe.”
Another medical team at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center shared a similar photo.
“We wanted to share this beautiful moment…when members of our team spent a few extra minutes…praying for their unit, Vanderbilt employees, patients and families and all of our colleagues around the world taking care of patients,” the hospital wrote.
“It felt good to do this with some of my amazing coworkers,” said Angela Gleaves, a labor and delivery nurse.
“We could feel God’s presence in the wind. Know that you are all covered in prayer.”
Let’s take heart in the fact that more people around the country are seeking God’s presence and His will through prayer, and let’s add our own prayers to that effort!
