The Power of Prayer – Greg Laurie Devotion – March 31, 2026

Biblical Context

The Book of James is a practical guide for Christian living, often called the “Proverbs of the New Testament.” It was written by James, who many believe was Jesus’ half-brother and a key leader in the early Jerusalem church. His letter is direct, telling believers how to live out their faith through action, not just words. It pushes you to examine if your faith is real and active, especially when things are hard. James wrote this letter to Jewish Christians scattered outside of Jerusalem, dealing with different troubles and temptations. He wanted them to stay strong in their faith and to show it in how they treated each other and how they lived. He wrote it to help them navigate life’s challenges with God’s wisdom.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “suffering” from James 5:13. In the Greek, this word is kakopatheō (κακοπαθέω). It means to suffer affliction, to endure hardship, or to be in trouble. It isn’t just a light discomfort; it speaks to truly difficult situations, painful experiences, or distress. James uses it to describe someone going through a tough time, maybe financial struggles, persecution, health problems, or emotional pain. It’s about being in a bad place, feeling the weight of trouble. When James tells us to pray when we are kakopatheō, he’s telling us that no matter how bad it gets, our first step should be to turn to God and talk to Him about it. He wants us to know that even in our deepest troubles, God is there and listening, ready to hear our honest cries for help.

Jesus Showed Us How to Pray

When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, He went there for one powerful reason: to pray. It wasn’t because He wanted to hide from His enemies who were closing in. And it wasn’t to spend a casual evening with His disciples, though they were nearby. Jesus went to Gethsemane specifically to pray. He knew that in just a matter of hours, He would face pain that’s truly beyond what we can imagine – physical agony, deep emotional hurt, and spiritual anguish. Jesus wanted to use His last remaining hours of freedom in the close presence of His Father.

The specific circumstances of Gethsemane were unique, but Jesus’ discipline of prayer wasn’t. The Gospels give us many examples where Jesus made time for prayer. It wasn’t an afterthought; it was a priority. Mark 1:35 says, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (nlt). Imagine that! Before the sun even came up, before the day’s demands could crowd Him, Jesus was already seeking His Father. He understood the value of starting His day connected to heaven.

Another powerful example comes from Luke 5:15–16: “But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer” (nlt). Think about how busy Jesus must have been. Crowds followed Him everywhere, craving healing and teaching. Yet, even with all that urgent demand, He often pulled away. He knew that to keep giving, He first had to receive. He didn’t let the needs of the many stop Him from his personal time with God. Jesus truly understood the power prayer has, and He really wants us to understand it too.

When Trouble Hits, What’s Your First Move?

When we find ourselves in trying circumstances, facing things that shake us, often our first temptation is to strike out at the people we hold responsible. We might want to blame them or get angry. Or maybe we get mad at God for allowing those circumstances to disrupt our lives, feeling like He’s let us down. Another common response is to just wallow in self-pity, feeling sorry for ourselves and doing nothing to change our situation.

But those are exactly the things the devil wants us to do because he knows how unhelpful they are. He wants us stuck, angry, and alone. When we’re afflicted, when we’re suffering, or when we’re in trouble, prayer should be our first response. It should be our go-to, just like it was for Jesus. Why is this so important? Why should prayer be our immediate reflex?

The Power and Purpose of Prayer

Well, for one thing, God may answer our prayer directly and remove the problem from our life. He has the power to step in and directly change our circumstances. The Bible is filled with incredible stories where He did just that—splitting seas, bringing down walls, healing the sick, and setting people free. We can’t forget that God is still in the business of doing amazing things when we ask Him.

Even if He doesn’t step in and change things right away, He still works in and through us when we take our needs to Him. Prayer confirms that we depend on Him for everything. It helps us get into a right relationship with Him, recognizing His control and our place as His children. It also allows us to place our burdens in His hands. When we turn our requests over to God, we can breathe a sigh of relief, truly knowing that He will be doing the heavy lifting. We don’t have to carry it all by ourselves.

Through prayer, we also receive the grace we need to endure trouble. This grace gives us the strength to keep going when things are tough, the patience to wait on God’s timing, and the perspective to see Him at work even when we can’t understand it. And as we pray through these difficulties, we grow closer to God. Our faith gets stronger, and our trust in Him gets deeper. It’s how we learn His ways and understand His heart more.

James’s Clear Instructions on Prayer

The Apostle James gave us very clear instructions in James 5:13–15: “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven” (nlt).

Let’s really dig into that first part. The word “suffering” could also be translated as “in trouble” or “in distress.” So, James is asking: Is anyone among you in trouble? Are you feeling distressed? If that’s you, then you should pray. It’s a simple, direct command for times of difficulty.

When the bottom drops out, when you feel as though you’re hanging by a thread, when circumstances seem to grow worse by the minute, what do you do? You pray. This isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a command and a comfort. Pray when you’re afflicted. Pray when you’re sick. Pray when you need forgiveness. Pray when specific needs occur. Pray for God’s will to be done.

No matter what you’re facing, your first, best, and most powerful move is to pray. Just like Jesus did in Gethsemane, laying His deepest fears and submission before His Father. He showed us the way, and we’re called to walk in it.