Does Prayer Change Anything? - November 21
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); PM Psalm 33; Mal. 3:13-4:6; James 5:13-20; Luke 18:9-14
Today’s Reflection
Last year, I was hearing lots of positive buzz about a new book by Kate Bowler called Everything Happens for a Reason. Since I was looking for something new to read, and often struggle myself with the question of whether everything really does happen for a reason, I ordered a copy. I was relieved to see that the full title of the book is, in fact, Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved. I thought, “OK, good. This is a book by someone who, like me, wonders how there could possibly be a reason for some of the truly awful things we experience in this life, whether as individuals or as a society.
When I read the book for the first time, I finished it in just a few sittings (which, for me, is fast). Bowler’s conversational, self-deprecating, and humor-laced writing made me want to keep reading—even though the book is also incredibly sad at times. At multiple moments during that first read of her memoir, I found myself crying along with her as she recalled her story: of how she dealt with mysterious medical issues that made it impossible for her to use her hands for everyday things (including the writing of her doctoral dissertation); of struggling with infertility; and then, within a couple years of when she and her husband finally welcomed their baby boy into the world, learning that she had stage IV colon cancer—at age 33.
Reading of Bowler’s own spiritual grappling with these excruciatingly difficult life events—wondering why this was happening and how she could hold onto her hope and belief in God through these trials—made me ponder those questions alongside her. As Bowler reflects, “Every day I prayed the same prayer: God, save me. Save me. Save me. Oh, God, remember my baby boy. Remember my son and my husband before you return me to ashes. Before they walk this earth alone. I plead with a God of Maybe, who may or may not let me collect more years. It is a God I love, and a God that breaks my heart.” Living vicariously through Bowler’s experiences made me reflect on and cry over life struggles I (and those close to me) have experienced, troubles that do not seem to be for any good reason.
This fall, a group of us met (virtually) on Wednesday evenings to share conversations about this book. And one of the themes we talked about a lot—because Bowler writes about it a lot—is the question of why bad things happen to good people. Bowler, as a Duke Divinity School professor whose research agenda is focused on the prosperity gospel, has a lot to say about this. Over the years, Bowler has spent much time observing and talking with those who ascribe to the belief that if you are “right with God,” then no harm will touch your life, that you will only experience blessings—only health, wealth, and success. They believe that if you are living as God would have you to live, then God will give you what you ask for—kind of like how children believe that if you are especially good all year long, then Santa Claus will bring you all the toys on your Christmas list.
Today’s reading from James 5 leads me to continue to reflect on the nature of our relationship with God, especially on how and why we pray. This verse, “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b) is a verse commonly used by those with prosperity gospel-type worldviews as a proof text for their belief that God will answer the prayers of those who are “right with” him. However, as is often the case with cherry-picking the scriptures, this leads to a shallow understanding of what God is saying to us through scripture. Just because Elijah prayed for it not to rain, then for it to rain again, and got the answer he was asking for each time doesn’t mean that our prayers are going to be answered that way!
Instead, the deeper message about prayer that I take away from James 5 is this: James is telling the believers among the house churches of Jerusalem—as well as we who read his words today—that prayer is a good and powerful thing. God wants us to pray. And, perhaps the most important thing we learn in this passage is this: God wants us to always be praying for one another: “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. … Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective” (James 5:14-16).
Prayer is powerful and effective because it brings us together in faith with other believers—and with God. Prayer changes how we see ourselves in relationship to God, other people, and our own circumstances. The point of prayer is not to change situations. The point of prayer is that through it we ourselves are changed.
—Becky+
Questions for Self-Reflection
How does praying for someone change the way you see that person? And does it change the way you see yourself in relationship to that person?
Daily Challenge
Ask God to place three particular people on your heart that you should be praying for over the next week. Commit to pray for each person at least once a day for the next week. At the end of the week, reflect on how God has changed you and your perspective on those individuals. And if it seems appropriate to do so, write them each a short note to let them know you have been thinking of them and praying for them.