We often feel quite helpless. Things happen which we feel are totally beyond our control. For example, the price of food goes up and suddenly, it is harder to feed our families. Or, a new regulation is passed which places an extra burden on us. No one consulted us about the price rise, we had no say when the regulation was written – yet these things impact our lives. As King Solomon said long ago, “Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”” (Ecclesiastes 8:4 NIV)
We feel even more helpless in the face of natural disasters. Without warning the earth shakes and causes damage to our house. A sudden storm ruins some of our household goods. A lightening strike kills an animal. At times we may feel that we are a plaything of nature.
The reason we feel helpless is because nothing can happen without God’s permission. As the prophet Job said, “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.” (Job 12:13-15 NIV) And, as Job said in another place, “…who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’” (Job 9:12 NIV)
But Job’s understanding of God was not complete. The Bible clearly teaches that we can have an influence on what happens – even over the things which we call natural disasters. The Apostle James teaches us that, “…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. 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 5:16-18 NIV)
In this passage we see two conditions under which we can influence nature. The first condition is that we are righteous. What this means, in practice, is that we must have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf which cleanses us from sin, and we must be zealous in carrying out God’s will. If we are not followers of Christ, or we are lax in doing what God has told us to do, then we have no assurance that God will listen to us.
The second condition which James mentions is that we must pray earnestly. We must truly desire the things for which we pray. And, if we are righteous, the things we desire will not be selfish but will be in harmony with God’s will. When we earnestly pray for things which are within the will of God, we can have confidence that He will do as we ask – even if it means changing the course of nature. Jesus once told His disciples, “…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Luke17:20 NIV)
But this raises an important question. How can we know the will of God so that we only pray for those things which are within His will? There are many times when we do not know God’s will. In such cases, how do we know what we should pray? The Apostle James teaches us that we should not demand our own wants and wishes but submit our requests with the proviso “If it be your will.” In other words, if we do not know God’s will concerning a particular matter, we should still go ahead and ask but willingly accept whatever answer the Lord gives. James writes, “…you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”” (James 4:15 NIV)
However, there are a number of things concerning which God has already made His will clear. We are free to pray about them because we know that this is what God wants us to do. For example, God told the Jewish people to, “…seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile…” (Jeremiah 28:7 NIV)
The situation was this: The Israelites had turned away from God to idolatry. Because of their many sins, and their refusal to repent, God sent the Babylonians against them. The Babylonians destroyed the city of Jerusalem and carried off some of the few people who had remained faithful to God. The prophet Daniel was one of these.
God’s purpose was not to destroy the Jewish people. But to refine them and purge them of their sins. God wanted them to prosper and so He instructed them to pray for the peace and prosperity of Babylon, “…because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV)
If we are God’s people, we can rest assured that God wishes us to prosper as well. Therefore, we too ought to pray for the peace and prosperity of the lands in which we live. We may feel that those among whom we live are wicked and deserve to suffer. They may even persecute God’s people. The Babylonians were wicked and cruel people. Yet God told the Israelites to pray for them anyway. Our wellbeing is affected by the wellbeing of those around us. If we want God’s blessings upon us, then we should pray that God will bless the land and people where we live. It may well be that our prayers will make the difference whether a natural disaster or calamity strikes, or not.
God also tells us to pray for those who are in authority. It is very easy to complain about our circumstances and speak against the government. We may feel that they do not have our best interests in mind or are not doing enough to help or protect us. Such complaints are often the loudest after a calamity or natural disaster occurs. Many feel that the government could have prevented it from happening or, if they could not have prevented it, their neglect and lack of preparation made it far worse than necessary. Others complain that not enough is being done to help those who are affected by the problem.
Yes, it is easy to complain, but how often do we pray for those over us or who have to make decisions which affect our welfare? The Apostle Paul writes, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV)
Perhaps one of the reasons we sometimes are not able to live peaceful and quiet lives is that we have not been praying for those in authority as we ought. How often do we pray for them and their salvation?
There is something else we should pray about. King David wrote, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.”” (Psalm 122:6 NIV) According to this Psalm, those who pray for the wellbeing of Jerusalem will themselves be blessed. Do we pray that there will be peace in Jerusalem?
While David had the physical city of Jerusalem in mind, there is also a spiritual aspect to this. Jerusalem is not only a city, it is used as a metaphor for the entire Jewish people (Psalm 125:2, Isaiah 52:9). Therefore, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem meant to also pray for the wellbeing of the Jewish people. Today, one of God’s names for the church is “The New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:2-3). Therefore, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem means to pray for the wellbeing of the church, that is the followers of Christ. Look at history and decide for yourself: What has happened to those nations or societies which have opposed or persecuted the Jewish people or the followers of Christ? Perhaps one reason we suffer calamity is that we have not prayed for the peace of Christ’s followers and desired their wellbeing as we ought.
God is good. When we are righteous and pray according to His will, he will answer our prayers and preserve us through all calamity.