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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 truth is, prayer is not just about getting things from God, but about getting to know God Himself. When we're suffering, it's tempting to look for visions or earth-shaking events to prove God's power, but the Bible teaches us that the purpose of prayer is to get ahold of God, not of the answer. When we're suffering, we often struggle with feelings of dejection and despair. But the Bible says that dejection is a sign of spiritual sickness, and that we are always to blame for it. This is because we often look for external solutions to our problems, rather than turning to God and trusting Him with the mysteries of suffering. But when we do turn to God, we can find a deeper dimension of His response to our suffering. As the psalmist says, "Thanks to Christ's life, we have even more reason to thank God in the light of sickness." So, what's the purpose of prayer when we're suffering? It's not to get answers or solutions, but to get to know God Himself. It's to deepen our surrender to and attention on God, and to align ourselves with His holy will. When we pray, we're not just asking for things, we're asking to know God better. And as we do, we can find joy and peace, even in the midst of suffering. As the Bible says, "Ask, and you will receive" (John 16:24).
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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