Courageous Prayer

Do you have enough courage to pray?  That might sound strange to you.  Usually we hear about praying to have courage, not having courage to pray.  But I’m serious about the question.  Do you have the courage to set aside your own control (or the perception of your own control) and surrender your way to God?  When I consider such a thing, I have a gut reaction like I’m in some sort of danger.  Pray?  At a time like this?  The world seems to be falling apart and I’m supposed to just surrender to God?  Exactly.  That is, if you want to have any peace in the midst of the storm.  Here’s how Jesus put it:

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 (CSB)

Do you believe it?  Do you believe that Jesus has conquered the world and gives us peace in the midst of our suffering?  If so, then, “Be courageous!”  I know.  Easier said than done.  Our world sends a barrage of challenges that knock us off our feet time and time again.  How many times do we have to fall down before we lack the will to get up again?  I’ll admit it.  I have found myself in some dark valleys over this last year.  I look up and all I see is the next mountain to climb.  I get tired.  I get discouraged.  I get to the end of myself. 

This is why we pray.

If anyone should tell you that only the weak would pray to God, agree with them quickly and invite them to pray with you.  Prayer acknowledges the fact that we don’t have control and that we’re overwhelmed by the world.  To pray is to take seriously our sinful human condition and to release the guidance of our lives to God Himself. 

Release control.  These two words bring me back to that gut feeling of danger.  Why?  I’ve somehow fooled myself into thinking that I know best how to direct my own life.  My track record would tell you otherwise, but my memory is short and self-confidence is high.  So I convince myself that next time I’ll get it right.  It’s like I’m addicted to self-control.  I’m a power junkie, and I’m afraid.  What will happen to me if I release control?  Who will catch me when I fall?

Jesus will. 

It’s time to ask the question again.  Do you believe that Jesus has conquered the world and gives us peace in the midst of our suffering?  Notice Jesus didn’t promise to take away all our suffering.  In fact, He told us “You will have suffering in this world.”  Praying to God and trusting in Him gives us peace despite our suffering.  Jesus conquered the world through His death and resurrection.  Jesus took death and turned it into life.  Jesus absorbed our sin and gave us His righteousness.  Jesus defeated everything that causes suffering in this world.  How did he do it?  He suffered.  He suffered for me and for you. 

That took courage.  Jesus prayed to His Father and released control.  Jesus loved us enough to suffer.  He trusted that His ultimate act of love would conquer hate.  It worked.  You are now a part of an eternal kingdom.  We trust in the God who saved us, so we courageously anticipate eternity every day in the way we live.  In this kingdom, love conquers hate, good conquers evil and hope conquers despair.  In this kingdom, we have the courage to trust, the courage to forgive, the courage to sacrifice and, yes, the courage to pray.   

We will have suffering in this world.  Release control.  Be courageous.  Pray.