Praying During Times of Trouble

 James 5:13 (ESV)

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

With that being said, I could end it there. Instead I'm going to share with you some things I've learned from a man named Habakkuk.

Habakkuk was struggling. A lot trouble, evil, and suffering was going in the land of Judah. When he saw the trouble going on, he cried out to God with questions. Why was God letting all these bad things happen? How could God allow these things to happen? (Habakkuk 1:2-4) God replied to Habakkuk's cries.

Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV)

Look among the nations, and see;
    wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
    that you would not believe if told.

Then God said to Habakkuk that he would be raising up their enemies to punish them. When he was told this, Habakkuk was confused. Why would God use evil to punish evil? 

Habakkuk 2:4 (ESV, italics mine) 

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
    but the righteous shall live by his faith.

God told Habakkuk that they would be punished for their evil deeds. When Habakkuk heard this, he started to praise God through prayer (Habakkuk 3).

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV)

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer's;
    he makes me tread on my high places.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

 So what was the point of all that? Habakkuk was going through hardships, yet he didn't desert God. Quite the opposite, he went to God and told him exactly what was on his mind. He listened to what God said, and accepted it with faith and praise. (I highly recommend that you read the book of Habakkuk on your own).

What about us? In John 16:33 it says that we will have troubles in life. It's inevitable. We all will go through troubles of some kind or nature. In Psalm 46:1 it says that God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. So what should we do when we encounter trouble? We should go to God and tell him everything that's on our mind. Then we need to put our complete trust in him.

1 Peter 3:14-17 (ESV)

 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

When troubles come, trust in God. Pray and tell him what's on your heart. Let him guide you through the difficult times you encounter. 

I pray that this will encourage you not to give up when troubles come.

*This post took a while, as I wasn't sure what God wanted me to share with you. I had been praying about it when a friend mentioned they had been reading Habakkuk. It was an answer to prayer!*