Praying In A Crisis

“…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” – James 5:16-18.

Our country is in crisis. The coronavirus has shaken the foundation of every facet of life. Many of us are anxious. All of us are confused. We are used to going to God with our requests, but this time seems different. Things are bad and we don’t know when they will get better. Billy Graham said that “prayer is the Christian’s greatest weapon.” And the weapon is needed more than ever during this crisis. 

Some people approach prayer as if it were just a polite greeting card. Something nice to do. A few sentences filled with pleasant thoughts. Perhaps an obligation. Something they feel they should do. But the Bible describes a different kind of prayer. One example is Daniel. 

The opening verses of this second chapter of Daniel tell us that Daniel was facing a great crisis at this time. King Nebuchadnezzar had experienced such disturbing dreams (verse 1), that he could not sleep. So, he summoned his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers (verses 2-4) and demanded that they reveal the dream and its interpretation to him (verses 5-9). The wise men of Babylon told the king that no one could do this, which made him so furious that he ordered the death of all the wise men, which included Daniel, and his friends (verses 12-13). Daniel then sought an interview with the king and promised he would reveal the dream and its interpretation (verses 14-16).

This crisis was one of many crises that Daniel experienced during his long and eventful ministry. But what did he do when he faced a crisis? He prayed; and we, who live 2,500 years later in the world’s history, should likewise resort to the place of prayer in our times of crisis

Daniel showed us the importance of consistent prayer. Prayer is not just there when we are in trouble, pain, or fear. Prayer is a tool we have at all times to communicate with God. God wants to hear from us daily. He wants to hear from us when things are going well, as well as when we are discouraged. Prayer opens up communication with God. Through prayer, we share our desires and show God our need for His guidance. 

Our experiences with prayer may not be as dramatic as that of Daniel, but they are still life-changing.  

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you pray in times of trouble?
2. The time to learn how to pray during a crisis is before the crisis begins. Why do you think that is important?