When to Pray

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
—James 5:13

When we find ourselves in difficult situations, often the temptation is to lash out at the person who helped bring those circumstances on us. Or, we want to blame someone for our state of affairs. We may even become mad at God for allowing this in our lives. Or, we might wallow in self-pity.

But when we’re in trouble, when we’re suffering, or when we’re in trouble, God tells us what we should do: pray. Why? For one thing, it just may be that God might remove that problem because of our prayers. That’s not to say that God will always take our troubles, suffering, or misery away. But it’s to say that sometimes He will.

By simply bringing our circumstances before the Lord and acknowledging our need and dependence on Him, we can see God intervene in the situation we are presently facing. Prayer can also give us the comfort we need to endure trouble and be brought much closer to God.

James 5:13 tells us, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. . . .” The word “suffering” used here could also be translated “in trouble” or “in distress.” Is anyone among you in trouble? Are you distressed? Then you should pray.

So when the bottom drops out, when you feel you are just hanging by a thread, when circumstances have become incredibly difficult, or when they have grown worse by the minute, what should you do? You should pray.

You should pray when you’re afflicted. You should pray when you’re sick. You should pray when you’re corrupted by sin. And you should pray when specific needs occur. Pray, and don’t give up.

Praying for us all
Pastor Mike