Why Inmates Say “Yes” to Legal Help—But “No” to Prayer Partners. And why that should stir something in us

While browsing through profiles of incarcerated individuals—hoping to write letters of prayerful encouragement—I noticed something that stopped me.

Nearly every person had checked “YES” next to the question:

Are you interested in legal counsel?

Of course they had. Legal support is critical when you're navigating the justice system. But then came the next question:

Would you like a prayer partner?

And this time? Many boxes were left blank.Some even marked “NO.” Even among inmates who identified themselves as Christian.

What Inmates Really Want—and What They're Missing

This wasn’t just a data point. It was a heartbreak. It got me thinking: Why is prayer the thing we’re least likely to ask for, even when it’s the thing we may need most?

Legal counsel can help navigate the courts. But prayer? It helps navigate the soul.

We all need advocates in the courtroom—but we also need intercessors at the throne of grace. People who will show up spiritually, even when we feel unworthy. Even when we’re not asking.

Why Some Say “No” to Prayer (And How We Should Respond)

Maybe some inmates feel disqualified.

Maybe they don’t think prayer can touch the place they’re in.

Or maybe—just maybe—they’ve never had someone on the outside show them what a real prayer partner looks like.

And here’s the truth: Whether the checkbox is marked “yes” or “no,” we can still pray.

No checkbox determines someone’s worthiness. No answer disqualifies them from grace.

God doesn’t wait for permission to pursue hearts—and neither should we.

Prayer vs. Legal Counsel: Why Both Matter

Let’s be clear: Legal help is essential.

We should support and champion efforts to bring justice, clarity, and fairness into broken systems.

But if legal counsel works on the outside, prayer works on the inside.

Prayer is what reminds a person that they’re more than their sentence.More than their past.More than what the world says about them.

How You Can Help (Even If They Don’t Ask)

• Write a letter to someone behind bars. Even a simple word of encouragement can remind someone they’re not forgotten.

• Pray by name, even if they checked “no.” God knows the story behind the checkbox.

• Share this message with others who care. The more people praying, the more light we shine into dark places.

  
  

Final Thoughts: Becoming the Kind of People They’d Say “Yes” To

Maybe the real challenge is this: To become the kind of prayer partners people would actually say “yes” to.

Not because we’re perfect, but because we’re present.

Because we show up with compassion, not condemnation.

Because we don’t see an inmate—we see a soul.

So I’m writing those letters.

And I’m praying.

Not because they asked me to.

But because Jesus would have done the same.

Feeling stirred? 🙏 Join me in praying for those who didn’t check the box.

Let’s intercede boldly—because God’s mercy moves even when no one else does.