God created in us the instinct to seek His help, and a short prayer escapes our lips unbidden. It’s usually an unconscious thought rather than a thought-through sentiment. Perhaps it remains secret in our heart but if said aloud, it will probably sound something like, ‘Thank you!’ or ‘Help!’ or ‘Lord save me /him / her!’ or ‘Do something!’
The prayer flies from our lips and heart just like an arrow winging from a bow that points heavenward. And like a bow, the force of the prayer comes from the tension behind a bow: the prayer is sincere in proportion to the emotion of the situation causing the prayer.
Scripture reports many arrow prayers. Probably the most famous is vocalised by St Peter when he tried walking on water
Early in the morning Jesus came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. When Peter noticed the strong wind, he became frightened and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Matthew 14:25–30
Peter’s ‘Lord save me!’ here is a perfect example of an arrow prayer. Scripture also records Jesus praying arrow prayers. Two examples from the Cross include, ‘I thirst!’ (John 19:28) or ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 28:46).
These arrow prayers all seek help, but they could offer praise or thanks instead. They reflect the underlying mind set of the person praying at the moment when they prayed. Perhaps this observation explains why arrow prayers are rarely scripted because so often they arise from the unconscious.
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