Sandra was very excited. She had prayed that she would get the job and she just got off the phone with her future boss – she had the job. At Bible study that evening she exclaimed that God had answered her prayer. At the same Bible study was Andy, he had prayed for months that God would heal his granddaughter from cancer – didn’t happen. Andy didn’t say anything he just wondered.
This particular Bible study was on the book of James and they were on chapter 5 about prayer. The study leader, Rachel, read the passage. Andy was thinking as Rachel read about prayer for the sick by the elders. The scripture says a prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick and the Lord will raise the person up and their sins will be forgiven. Hmmm he thought, the elders anointed my granddaughter with oil and prayed for her healing, she died. I guess their prayer was not in faith – what is faith anyway? Rachel then read about Elijah praying for no rain and it didn’t and then praying for rain and it did. So what gives? The Bible says one thing but real life says something else.
Rachel looked up, it was as if she could read Andy’s mind. Rachel was not their usual study leader, she was substituting. She turned to Sandra, did you expect to obtain the job when you prayed? Sandra glanced at Rachel. Well no. She replied. Andy was listening now. I wanted the job. Sandra continued. But I wasn’t sure I would get it. Then Rachel asked Sandra. Do you think that Elijah expected the rain to stop when he asked? Sandra answered. Well I guess so. Rachel asked again. Do you think Elijah expected the rain to start when he asked? Again Sandra answered. Well I guess so. Yet you didn’t expect to get the job when you prayed. So how was your prayer different from Elijah’s? Andy was really listening now. There was something different in the way Rachel was teaching. Sandra, mumbled Elijah expected to get what he was asking for and I uncertain.
Rachel asked Sandra. If you see a puddle of water on the floor can you tell how it got there? Sandra thought for a moment and replied. It could have gotten there for many reasons. Then Rachel asked. If you placed an ice cube on the floor would you expect to see a puddle of water in an hour or so? Yes I would. Sandra said. Rachel continued. Sandra, going from the ice cube to the puddle is easy, but going from the puddle to what caused it is hard. Going from the ice cube to the puddle is going forward. Going from the puddle to the cause is going backward – a much harder task. There are many ways to get a puddle on the floor, you don’t know how it got there. Likewise saying that God answered your prayer about the job is saying something you don’t know. You are building a back story which is a narrative fallacy. Andy was all ears at this point, Rachel was talking like someone who knew something.
Then Rachel looked at Andy and said to Sandra. Sandra, what do you think your back story says to others? That God answers prayer? Sandra replied. No, not at all! Is all that Rachel said. Turning to the whole group Rachel asked. If the elders pray in faith will the person be healed? Silence from the group. If the person is not healed does that mean the elders did not pray in faith? Again silence. Also, if the person was not healed, are they still in their sins? Silence. Andy wondered. Who is this person? No one taught this way before.
What do you expect when you pray? Rachel said in a louder voice. Do you remember James talking about doubt when praying for wisdom in chapter 1. James wrote “But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from God.” What do you expect when you pray? Rachel asked again. The group was silent yet again. Rachel continued. You invent back stories about God answering your prayers and back stories about God desiring something else when he doesn’t. How is that different from fate, what will be will be?
Rachel again turned to Sandra. Do you think non-believers get jobs? Sandra hesitated and then said. I suppose so. Are those jobs answers to prayer – what makes your job an answer to prayer? Maybe God gives jobs to those he gives jobs to – even to non-believers. Sandra, a little shaken asks. If my prayer for a job was shaky, what about my prayer for salvation? Then Rachel turning to the group again asks. Where in scripture does God condition salvation on prayer? Where in scripture is one commanded to pray for salvation? Where in scripture is one described as praying for salvation? The group was silent.
Andy, hesitated, then offered an answer. Nowhere! Why is that, asked Rachel? The group was silent. Rachel looked everyone in the eye and then specifically at Andy and said. Your Father who is in heaven causes His sun to rise on the evil and good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Andy, looking into Rachel’s eyes thought to himself. Because salvation is open to all good or bad wherever they may be just like the sun and the rain. You can refuse salvation but you cannot ask for it, it is there. Rachel winked, ended the Bible study and said see you next week. Andy couldn’t wait.
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