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Your Question:
What's the purpose of prayer when we're suffering?
Answer:
As a pastor, I've seen many people struggle with the purpose of prayer when they're suffering. It's easy to get caught up in trying to get answers or solutions to our problems, but the purpose of prayer is not to get ahold of God's answer, but to get ahold of God Himself. When we're suffering, it's natural to feel dejected and question God's character, but it's in these moments that we're forced to confront our own fallacies and limitations in our understanding of God. Prayer is not just about getting what we want or need, but about deepening our surrender to and attention on God. It's about recognizing that we don't have all the answers and that our understanding of God is limited. As the Bible says, "Ask, and you will receive" (John 16:24), but this is not just about receiving answers, but about receiving God Himself. When we pray, we're not just asking for things, but we're also asking to be aligned with God's holy will and to have a right relationship with Him. In times of suffering, prayer is not just about getting answers, but about trusting God in the midst of uncertainty. It's about recognizing that God is sovereign and that He is working everything out for our good, even when we can't see it. As the psalmist says, "God, I don't know what you are doing, but you do, and that is enough" (Psalm 139:23-24). Prayer is not just about getting what we want, but about trusting God and surrendering to His will, even when it's hard to understand.
Sources:
my utmost for his highest
oswald chambers
depression
edward welch
psalms
tremper longman
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
practicing the way
john mark comer
kingdom of cults
walter martin
elemental theology
emery bancroft
systematic theology
wayne grudem
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