When Prayer Was On Display

Damar Hamlin

Damar Hamlin has made a remarkable comeback. The 24-year-old Buffalo Bills’ safety collapsed on the field after he tackled Bengals wide receiver, Tee Higgins, during the Monday Night Football game on January 2. Damar stood up then fell to the ground after he suffered a cardiac arrest. What transpired after his collapse drew our nation’s attention to an exhilarating display of the importance and power of prayer. 

NFL players kneeling and praying

As medical people moved quickly to Damar’s aid, NFL players from the Bills and Bengals spontaneously joined together, knelt and prayed for Damar. Surely every player was not driven by personal faith, but some were and they led others to pray. And the praying caught fire. A prayer vigil followed outside the hospital for him. 

Dan Orlovsky

Dan Orlovsky, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN Football Analyst, saying he didn’t know if it was the right thing to do or not, bowed his head during a live ESPN broadcast and spontaneously led his colleagues in prayer for Damar Hamlin.  

ESPN’s Monday Night Football audience was suddenly focused in an unexpected direction in the middle of the first quarter. Instead of passes and plays the focus changed to prayer. A nation was reminded that prayer can tear down barriers and unite people, and hope can be kept alive when we talk to God.   

God answered those prayers. The prompt responses of medical personnel on the field and the immediate and ongoing care at the hospital advanced his healing. And God kept the breath of life alive in Damar Hamlin. 

Is there something you need to talk with God about? 

Author: Randy J. Gauger

Follower of Jesus Christ, Mary's husband for 55 years, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, preacher, ordained American Baptist Pastor retired, writer.

2 thoughts on “When Prayer Was On Display”

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