“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
Sooner or later most every disciple will wrestle with God about the efficacy of prayer. In other words: Does it work?
For every unmistakable answer to prayer I’ve received over the years, I can think of examples where the answer I’ve received was seemingly a door slammed in my face. I’ve prayed for people to come to Christ who didn’t. I’ve prayed for healings that never came. For marriages to be restored that collapsed. For churches to “be one” that fell apart. For leaders to hold the line who fell away. For “kings and those in authority” whose policies turned out to be repugnant.
The prophet Zephaniah rebuked Jews who reached a point of despondency in their faith where they said things like, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill” (Zephaniah 1:12). I once heard an old pastor say with a shrug of fatalism, “I don’t pray anymore, I meditate.”
Part of problem when we struggle like this is what we talked about yesterday – we need to grow in our faith to the point where we can rest in the will of God, knowing that He is working out purposes and plans that stretch far beyond what we can see or understand.
But another part of the problem is that we have an inadequate, even unbiblical, view of suffering. Way too many Christians have their world rocked when hardship comes their way, as though God has abandoned them or is punishing them. But if there is anything God has been clear on in Scripture is that on this side of heaven, we will not be given a pain-free pass through life.
For this reason, the spiritually mature learn to not take suffering personally, but to see it as something we all must face living on a planet cursed by sin (Romans 8:20-22), and even as something potentially redemptive (Romans 8:28), and for that reason, a source for joy (Romans 5:3-5).
Mark Batterson gives an example of this reframing of suffering we ought to do. “I’ve always been strangely encouraged when I encounter increased spiritual opposition or oppression. It means I’m doing something right. It means I’m riling up the enemy. It means I’m inching closer to the breakthrough. And just when the fighting gets fiercest, I know that God is getting ready to go to battle for me.”
God’s Word summons all followers of Christ to see the world through the prism of faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). These three virtues sustain the intercessor.
Why should we set aside time for this sort of prayer? Because by faith, we believe intercession has great power in its effects. It seems laughable to some that such a thing would matter at all. But if God has ordained for us to come alongside and fight with him through prayer for his kingdom to come and will to be done, then that’s what I will do.
Why should we intercede? Because in hope I stretch my gaze into eternity and see that my prayers are part of a timeless procession of intercessors stretching back from Abraham all the way forward into heaven, where Jesus is yet interceding, and the departed saints of those who died for Christ are under the altar still crying out, “Sovereign Lord, how long?” (Revelation 6:9-11), and even now heaven’s angels are adding sweet incense to the ongoing prayers of the saints on earth before the throne of God (Revelation 8:1-4).
Why should we intercede? Because in love, it connects me emotionally, spiritually, and materially to those I am praying for. Have you ever said to someone who’s shared a need with you, “I’ll be praying for that,” then a week later you cross paths with them and suddenly remember, red-faced, that you have forgotten all about them?
Whatever system works for you to not be so forgetful, for love’s sake come up with one, and ask God for the help to make it a regular part of the rhythm of your praying. In fact, ask other Christians about their prayer practices, compare notes, and learn from each other.
This version of “When You Believe” is both inspiring and haunting.