Why Doesn’t Prayer Work?Намуна

Rescue Us From Evil: Is Prayer a Last Resort?

If you’ve ever made the mistake of treating prayer as a last resort, reserved only for those completely overwhelming, nail-biting, climax-of-the-movie-type moments in life, you’re not alone.

In the book of Jonah, we learn that even though Jonah heard directly from God, he didn’t want to obey. Jonah tried to run away from God before running out of options and turned to his ultimate last resort: prayer. From inside a giant fish, Jonah cried out for help and prayed, “As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy temple” (Jon. 2:7, NLT).  

Because of fear, Jonah didn’t want to follow God’s plan or wait on His timing, so he took matters into his own hands. Just like Jonah, our independence and self-sufficiency can make us forget that prayer should be the first thing we do instead of the last. 

In Philippians 4:6, Paul writes, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (NLT). 

Paul knew that we tend to either turn to our strength or succumb to worry, fear and anxiety rather than rely on God through the most simple yet powerful solution of all—prayer. 

Questions for Reflection:

What was the last thing you desperately needed and received?

Think back to a situation in your life that seemed hopeless. What was your response?

Jonah was aware of his sin, but he was also aware of God’s love and grace. Do you recognize God’s great love for you? How does having that knowledge impact your life?