There are seasons in the Christian life when sorrow comes crashing in. These are times of deep anguish, unbearable mourning, or the sudden sting of devastating news. In those moments, people may surround you with comforting words, and their support may be sincere and even helpful. But the truth is, when tragedy strikes the heart, it can feel paralyzing, like the weight of it is too much to carry.
There are also people who you know, even remarkably close, that are lost. Living a rebellious life against God. Bound in their sin with what looks like there is no hope. And it crushes your heart.
Yet, God has given us a sacred outlet, which is the gift of prayer. When life delivers heartbreaking news or the burden of someone’s life we love is in peril our response is often one of two paths.
- We either run to God in urgent/fervent desperate prayer
- We pull away in silence and pain.
Hear this clearly, God invites your anguish. He is not put off by your pain or overwhelmed by your emotions. In fact, He calls you to bring them to Him.
1 Peter 5:7b reminds us, “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” That means all of it, your fears, your confusion, your heartbreak, your grief. Every trembling cry and every unspoken burden matters to Him.
He cares about your situation. He is ready to listen. And He is able to respond.
James 5:16 declares, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” There is power in passionate and heartfelt prayer, especially when it is born from a place of desperation and faith.
So, I ask you: Are you praying with urgency? Not just routinely, not just out of habit, but crying out to God with everything that is within you?
We will look at several people in Scripture who prayed with such urgency that heaven responded. Their examples will stir our faith and remind us that God hears and God answers.
Examples of Biblical Character’s Prayers of Urgency
- Identify the Need (vs. 3)
- Be Transparent (vs. 4)
- Acknowledge God (vs. 5-6)
- Repent if there is Sin/Ask for forgiveness (vs. 7)
- Declare God’s truth (vs. 8-10)
- Request (vs. 11)
- Take Action if needed (2:4-5)
Urgent prayers may lead to offering conditional prayers. This is placing your word on the line. When there is great distress, this may be the only prayer that will come to your mind.
Conditional prayers are based on the if/then statement. It is pleading that “if” God does this, “then” you will do that. In Hannah’s case, she vowed that if God blessed her with a son, then she would return this same son back to the Lord.
- Warning: Jesus said in Matthew 5:37 to let your yes be yes and your no be no. Meaning, be a man or woman of your word. So, if you pray a conditional prayer and God answers you, will you reveal yourself to be a man or woman of your word unto God?
Hannah’s prayer came out of deep bitterness of soul, and she was not afraid to be transparent with God and at the same time believe Him in fulfilling her requests.
The urgent prayers of intercession. In this case it was corporate intercession. After hearing about the death of James and the arrest of Peter, the Church fervently prayed for Peter.
- This may be one of the areas where the current church is weak. The coming together and crying out to God for the woes in this world. Praying for those who are sick or suffering. Praying for those who are backslidden or are lacking in their walk with God. Praying for the salvation of sinners.
- Our prayers matter, both individually and corporately.
- The result is the supernatural work of God in rescuing Peter.
When the church prays together urgently over needs serious to God, we then see God’s supernatural workings come to pass.
We often run to the leaders of the church first and will urgently plead for help instead of going directly to God. Some of you may under demonic attack and you have yet to cry out to God for help. He alone can help in your time of need.
Urgent/fervent prayers will test what you honestly believe about God. Urgent prayer will cause you to confess your weaknesses before Him. When you are desperate, you language will match your emotions.
- Do you have a child/children in the world? Is your child/children living a life that you are not proud of? Are they making choices in life that not only affect them but bring ripple effects into your life as well? Are you desperate enough to bring them to Jesus in prayer daily until you see a miracle?
- Demons afflicting your children. They can be young, teens, and even adults. And some of these demons are not going anywhere until you start praying!
Name and write down one or two things, situations, or people that are in urgent need of your prayers. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in prayer. Be fervent, detailed, and use Nehemiah’s pattern if it will help.