I got an email from a friend who requested that everyone on her prayer chain and Bible study (which I just started attending) pray for some troubled circumstances to be resolved in a specific way. Nothing seems to be out of sorts with asking people to pray on your behalf. In fact, somewhere in scripture, I think we're supposed to do that.
But then something else occured to me. Is that the way God operates? I ask because I honestly don't know. If we come to God with a specific request, and the outcome is an obvious no, and not what we had hoped for, what does that mean? Some might say "your faith isn't strong enough," which I personally would not find helpful ( and might secretly pray that they get run over be a truck).
James 5:16 says "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." My first objection to this is the sexist language in which this was originally written, but I'll just pencil in "or woman" to absolve that minor annoyance. But the more I read just that one line, the more confused it seems. The only reason why I'm so familiar with that particular verse (but not others) is because I had to teach it the summer I worked as a Bible camp counselor for fifth graders.
Does it mean that when you are in such close communion with God and all sins are forgiven (righteous) that you will intuitively know the will of God and will pray accordingly? But as far as I know, no one who calls him or herself a Christian is ever "right with God" because we are all still human beings living in an imperfect world. An image also comes to my mind of God scowling at me and saying something like, "sorry, but you're still not righteous enough for me yet, so I'm gonna focus more on this believer over here who actually talks to me and listens to me everyday. You're number 385. I'm currently serving 89. Wait your turn." To me, it implies that you have to be "right with God" BEFORE he responds to any requests, which seems to directly contradict the teaching that you can go to God anytime.
The two times in my life when I've fallen to my knees in despair, begging for my own specific outcome, my request was not granted. And like a spoiled, angry teenager, I haven't been on speaking terms with God in a very long time. Again, I wonder, what does James 5:16 really mean?
Clearly, I'm no theological expert or prayer warrior or any of those noble ways of servanthood. But what I have very gradually come to understand for myself is that inner peace and inner strength will serve me much better than putting in my cosmic orders to God as the waiter who will serve me whatever I want off of life's menu. I don't know what else God gives, but I do know that one thing ALWAYS on the menu is the inner peace, or the ability to cope and deal with whatever circumstances you find yourself in. (or, how I originally visualized this sentence before censoring myself . . . when shit hits the fan. Yeah, I'm still a lot bit rough around the edges. My bad language should give you the first clue as to how UNrighteous I am!)
I've often heard Christians declare that they are "positive that God's will is x," and then "z" happens. I don't think anyone knows exactly what God's will is all the time and I tend to resent those people who stubbornly cling to idea that they alone have exclusive knowledge of "God's will" for someone else's life.
I will email my friend today, and tell her not that I'm praying for circumtance "x" to unfold, but that God will give her peace and strength to accept whatever he chooses to do.
