Earnest Prayer

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.  
 James 5:17-18

What Elijah was able to accomplish through prayer is quite astounding, and downright intimidating too. I’m grateful, therefore, that the Apostle James shows me that Elijah wasn’t superhuman after all, but that he was just like me! He got tired, he got angry, and he even failed sometimes. However, there’s one thing that made him different from many of us—he prayed earnestly. Elijah prayed with intensity and tenacity.
 
James uses the story of Elijah to inspire, encourage and challenge the Church to pray earnestly. However, many of us may be feeling discouraged, or burnt out, and not wanting to engage with the Lord in prayer.  
 
After three and a half years of no rain, Elijah prayed again, the rain came, and the earth produced crops. This implies that the farmers were willing to sow seeds in the dust while there was no rain, believing that one day the rain would come. Prayer can sometimes feel like this—as if I’m sowing seeds in the dust. Physically, it feels as if nothing is happening, but in fact that’s not the case spiritually. I want to have seeds in the ground when the rain comes. 
 
(From James Aladiran, “Earnest Prayer” October 18, 2022 Lectio 365)
 
 
The seed is in the ground. Now may we rest in hope while darkness does its work.

Wendell Berry

Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation