When praying sucks

Prayer feels burdensome, duteous, and sometimes our heart subtly believes it’s a waste of time.

And the last thing I want to do is pray just because I’m supposed to. 

But what if prayer actually makes change? What if it moved mountains in our lives? 

What if prayer actually changed outcomes, delivered results, and even more, allowed us to enjoy God on a level that no earthly pleasure could hold a candle too? 

The good news is it can and it does! James, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). 

If you still doubt that your prayers create real change, listen to what James says next, 

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours…” I love this. If you feel unworthy for the God of the universe to listen to your prayers, let it sink in that Elijah was a man of character flaws who sinned too. 

He too deserved God’s judgment but had been shown grace and mercy. And yet, God still considered him a righteous man. How so? He was in Christ. Just as you are, if that is where you place your trust and hope. 

James continues, “and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 

Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:17-18).

James could not be more clear. Elijah prayed and the rain stopped. Elijah prayed and the rain poured. 

Some who fancy themselves cerebral theologians ignore the plain meaning of this passage and argue, “Elijah prayed what God was already going to do, so his prayer had no impact on what would have been. He just so happened to pray inside what God had already planned.” 

What a beautiful way to gut a passage of its entire meaning in order to make sure it fits inside someone’s prescribed theological framework. 

But what did James say? “The effective prayer of a righteous man can ACCOMPLISH much.” This word “accomplish” is “ischyō” in the Greek and means to “be a force” or “to wield power.” 

James is not just proposing that prayer creates change, but that it creates powerful change. 

The enemy will aim every weapon in his arsenal at you in efforts to get you to believe that prayer is pointless. That prayer is nothing more than a religious obligation that you must suffer and endure. 

But how wrong this is! To pray is to commune with the God of the universe! But as wonderful as this may sound, it will mean nothing until you try it. 

Today, instead of seeking His hand, seek His face. Tell Him you simply want to experience what it is like to bask in His matchless presence. Try it. Ask him. He will not fail you. He loves you too much for that.