James 5:16 “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 (verse 17,18).
There’s a certain type of bamboo in Asia which grows to prodigious heights and at prodigious speed – sometimes as much as sixty feet in six weeks. However, before that growth spurt, the seed lies in the dark beneath the ground for up to five years. Those farmers who make a profitable living from this bamboo know what it is to be patient. They would have given up long ago and changed crops if they weren’t confident that plenty was going on beneath the surface even though there was no visible sign to encourage their perseverance. Every bit of watering and waiting is worthwhile. No prayer is wasted. Elijah had learnt that, and may we do so too.
I was challenged once by a Bolivian called Carlos. He had decided to follow Jesus at significant personal cost, experiencing alienation and antagonism from various family members. But God was at work! Slowly, over several years, one by one, each member of Carlos’ family decided to surrender their lives to God. What was his secret? “Three times a day, year after year, I got down on my knees and pleaded with the Lord for all my family.” I’ve prayed for family members and friends for a few decades now, and some have come to faith, whilst others have not yet. Sometimes there is clear visible progress, but most of the time it’s unseen – but I can be confident that plenty is going on beneath the surface, just like those bamboo shoots.
Whether it’s loved ones you want to see converted, a debilitating long-term illness, a crushing disappointment, or whatever other issue you’ve battled with and wrestled over in prayer for years, don’t give up! God has heard every single prayer.
Lord, I choose to trust your wisdom and timing today for… Amen!
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