Anytime there is some type of disaster, you can usually find people who are quick to post, tweet, or otherwise communicate their intention to pray for those affected. And, you will also find those who are just as quick to condemn and even mock such actions. So it makes you wonder, “Does it really even matter if we pray when something tragic happens?” Such has been the case this week. When word began to spread that Nashville and the surrounding communities had suffered horrific damage and loss of life after a tornado ripped through the area, people began to immediately express their intent to pray for those affected. And, right on cue, there were those who were quick to denounce the effectiveness of those prayers.
It’s true, you will find some people who express their intent to offer prayer are really more interested in virtue signaling for personal attention. They actually have no intention of praying, and even if they did, those prayers would probably be generic in nature and offered to a generic god that meats their ideal of what God should be like. What they really mean is that the condition of those affected has crossed their mind in a way that it has caused them to feel sorry for those suffering. But, for those who are curious about the effectiveness of prayer or for some of those who sincerely pray for people who are going through some tragedy, the question may persists, “Does prayer really matter?”
We know the Bible records instances when people prayed, and circumstances were changed. For instance, in 1 Samuel we read of Hannah who was unable to have children, yet she prayed, and God gave her the ability to conceive and she gave birth to Samuel who went on to become a judge and one of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel. We also read in 1 Kings 18about Elijah, who challenged the prophets of Baal to invoke their god to send down fire from heaven and consume their sacrifice. Despite all sorts of attempts, they were unable to do so, but when Elijah prayed a simple prayer, God answered by fire and consumed not only the sacrifice, but the altar and the water which had been poured over them both.
…prayer is not a discipline reserved only for biblical heroes and heroines or the super spiritual.
However, prayer is not a discipline reserved only for biblical heroes and heroines or the super spiritual. God instructs all of His people to pray. Take for example Colossians 4:2. Paul wrote, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” In his first letter to the Thessalonian church Paul gave his famous reminder to “pray without ceasing” (5:17). Why? He knew of the effectiveness of prayer. Prayer had become so important to the apostle and the fulfillment of his mission that on more than one occasion he called upon people to support his work in prayer (See 2 Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:25).
Someone might argue though that the belief in the effectiveness of prayer was a personal view held by Paul. This can hardly be true. After all, when the disciples had the opportunity to ask Jesus to do something for them, of all the possibilities available to them, they asked Him to teach them to pray. Why? Because they saw the difference that prayer made even in the earthly ministry of the Son of God. If He had a need to stay in contact with the Father, in their mind there could be little doubt that they too needed the spiritual help that can only come through sincere prayer.
But, does prayer still work today or is it just a holdover from a more archaic age? The answer is “Yes!” I and so many others have seen the impossible happen in what can only be explained as a response to prayer. I could give personal examples of God providing financially for our family when few people even knew of the need, or God taking care of a medical need that was not made public. We’re not special. Many others could offer an even more compelling argument for the effectiveness of prayer. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with a severe form of cancer. The doctors treating her did not expect her to survive, but several years later, through prayer and the mercy of God, she is still with us today.
Just hold on and hold on to faith.
With all of that being said, when we ask the question, does prayer really work, there can be little question in my mind that it does. But, there are two other points to keep in mind. First, though prayer works, sometimes God has a bigger plan than we can see at the moment and what may at first appear as a denial to our request for help may be God showing us that He has something better in mind. So, if you pray and God doesn’t seem to answer, don’t give up hope. It could be that God has something better in store. Just hold on and hold on to faith.
Another point to keep in mind is that while we are praying, we must also be on the lookout for ways that we can be an answer to someone’s prayer. Maybe God has blessed you to meet a financial need. Maybe you can volunteer some time to help clean up after a storm or just listen when a person feels like they have no one to talk to. It may surprise you how little effort it actually takes to make a big difference in someone’s life.
So, does prayer really matter? Does prayer really work? Yes! Just keep in mind that God may intend for it to work through us!
Scripture-Driven Life 