An Unhealthy Dependence on Prayer
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“And they prayed about everything. They had an unhealthy dependence on prayer.”
These were the words of a Pastor that was giving a report on a trip he had taken to help a Christian church in India. He talked about how happy the people were in spite of their poverty. He talked about the hospitality they enjoyed among these people even though they had so little to share. His only criticism was this one about how often they prayed.
I was stunned by his words though I look back and see that perhaps he was not accustomed to “praying about everything”. But, when I see the rest of what he had to say about them I wonder why anyone would question it. They lived in true faith and contentment in the midst of some pretty dark circumstances – at least by American standards. All that prayer, I would think, was a great contributor to their faith and contentment.
Over the last several months I have been studying what the Bible has to say about healing from abuse and emotional problems. Even those problems we have because of our own sin can seem overwhelming and hard to live with the consequences. We get left in emotional pain that many seem to think will keep us from ever living a full and peaceful or joyful life.
When I read the Word of God I think they are wrong on this one. It would take a book to write all of what I have learned (and they are already written!). But it seems to me that a “healthy” dependence on prayer could be a great start.
Psalm 107 talks about four different groups of people. The first group (Psalm 107:2-5) had wandered in the desert finding no place to live. They were hungry and thirsty and “their soul fainted within them.” The second group had rebelled against the words of God and as a result they were sitting in darkness, in the shadow of death, prisoners to affliction (Psalm 107:9-12). The third group were in pain because of their own sin. They “were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction”. (Psalm 107:17-18). The last group does business at sea and is knocked around by the wind and the waves. They see the beauty and awe of the ocean, as well as the horror. They feared for their physical safety.
Each group cries out to God. Verses 107:6, 13, 19, 28 say the same thing happened with each group: “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” These verses almost make it sound like they say the words and God waves His magic wand. But when you read the Psalm you can see that this was more of a process. These people suffered in their situations. God sent help to those in distress because they cried out to Him. They prayed!
Interestingly, the second theme in the chapter is thanksgiving. After God delivered each of these groups of people the Psalmist suggested that they thank the Lord. Verses 8, 15, 21, and 31 all make the same suggestion: “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!” He’s telling them to pray, to speak words of thanksgiving to God.
God wants to deliver us from our troubles. He also wants us to turn to Him to get us out. We have lots of places to turn; but He wants to be our top priority.
I can’t help but think, when I read these verses and I hear testimonies like the one about the Indians who had too much prayer (that must be an oxymoron), that this kind of prayer practice indicates a dependence on God that brings the faith and contentment. It brings deliverance from our troubles.
Are you facing some troubles? Will you cry out to God and seek His help, i.e., will you pray? Then, will you “thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man”?
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17