The Truth of the Situation May be Completely Reverse
I don't think there's anything wrong with people posting asking for prayer. And I also don't think there's anything wrong with people who respond to the post saying they are or will be praying for the person/situation.
But I do think there's something wrong when an assumption is made that only those who responded to the note itself are brothers and sisters who care about me. Or who are truly praying for me.
As the saying goes, "appearances can be deceiving". It is very possible that someone who responded (not signaling anyone out just speaking in general terms. I have no one in mind) – but it is possible for someone who responds with praying hands or other encouragements of praying for the person – that either they don't pray at all. Or, their prayer is done and then the individual's situation is forgotten.
It is also equally possible – for people who have not responded to the post itself with any words or praying hands emoji – that instead they included that person/situation on their prayer list. And for days, weeks, months, later – they are praying for the individual who requested it.
Which is why it is exceedingly unwise for someone to conclude in their mind that these people who commented on my post are my only friends. The only ones who care about me. And these others, why, they're barely Christians. They lack the love and compassion of true children of God – when in fact, the truth of the situation may be completely reversed.
Oh, no you don't. You're just trying to justify inactivity. If people genuinely cared about me, they would let me know they were praying for me.
A couple of things about this. One, prayer is a private matter between God and His people. God encourages us to go into our closets to pray:
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
And two, God warns about those praying publicly in order to be seen:
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Again, let me repeat. I am not saying people should not post prayer requests. And I am also not saying that people should not respond to posted prayer requests letting the person know that they are praying for them. I am not making any judgment about that at all.
What I'm doing is explaining the reason why some of God's people are hesitant to post publicly and tell someone they are praying for them. Some are uneasy about due to the things the verses I posted above say.
This is especially exacerbated when fingers are pointed at people who do not post – and are accused of being "unChristian" for not doing so.
Well then, if I'm a Christian, I better post and say I'm praying for someone lest I'm thought of as being not a Christian.
What is my motivation for posting then? Is it to make sure others see that I did? That's the problem Christ was addressing in Matthew 6:5,6. Prayers made in the sight of men. Why? So men might know that I pray and I am one of God's people.
I posted this to make people think. What is the unspoken dynamic going on regarding these things? And also to remind people who have requested prayer – that not only those who post on your note – but others too are praying for you and your situation.
We are praying for fathers who are ill. And for sons who have had strokes. And for daughters that have gotten cancer. And for many, many other things – as the Lord leads us to pray.