Praying for the Suffering (James 5:13)

It's time to Pray (James 5:13-20)

If you use your gift of speech to glorify God, it is a wonderful blessing. James had a lot to say about the tongue, and this chapter is no different. He talked about some of the worst things people do with their tongues: complaining (James 5:9) and swearing (James 5:12). But he also talked about some of the best ways to use the tongue, like praying and praising God (James 5:13) along with sharing God's Word (James 5:10).

Prayer is a crucial and holy thing to do. As His children, we have the freedom and boldness to approach God's throne and express our needs. In this section, James discusses prayer seven times. A grown-up Christian prays when things go wrong in life. He doesn't complain about his situation; instead, he talks to God about it, and God hears and answers his prayers. "Taking it to the Lord in prayer" is a sign of spiritual growth.

James told us to pray by giving us four examples of when God answers prayer.

First Example: Praying for the Suffering (5:13)

The word "afflicted" means "suffering in bad situations." This word has also been translated "in trouble." Paul used this word to talk about what was going on in his life as he suffered for the gospel (2 Tim. 2:9). People who follow God often have to deal with problems that aren't caused by sin or God's punishment.

What should we do when things become troubling for us? We shouldn't complain or criticize the saints who are having an easier time (James 5:9), and we shouldn't blame the Lord. We should pray and ask God for the wisdom we need to understand the situation and use it for His glory (James 1:5).

If it is God's will, prayer can take away pain. Prayer can also help us endure tough times and do God's will. God can turn problems into successes. Remember, it was James who told us that God gives more grace (James 4:6). Paul asked God to change his situation, but instead, God gave Paul the grace he needed to turn his weakness into strength (2 Cor. 12:7–10). Our Lord prayed in Gethsemane that the cup might be taken away, but it wasn't. However, the Father gave Him the strength. He had to die on the cross for our sins.

James said that not everyone has problems at the same time: "Is any merry? Let him sing psalms" (James 5:13). God balances our lives by giving us hours of pain and days of singing. A grown-up Christian knows how to sing even when he's in pain. (Anyone can sing once the trouble is over.) God can give "songs in the night" (Job 35:10). He did this for Paul and Silas when they were in jail in Philippi and were in pain. "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25).

In the early church, singing and praying were important parts of worship, and they should still be important to us. Our singing should show how we feel about our spiritual life. The believer's praise should be thoughtful (1 Cor. 14:15) and not just saying words or ideas that don't mean anything to God. Genuine praise should come from the heart (Eph. 5:19) and be driven by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Christian singing should come from the Bible (Col. 3:16) and not just from ideas that people have. God likes our singing and songs to be biblical.