When we go through difficult circumstances in life, we sometimes hear something like, “Don’t just talk about what you are going through; go out and do something about it!” In certain situations, the Bible agrees with that statement. When we see a world that has never experienced the love and truth of Jesus, we cannot simply talk about how we want people to come to know Christ; we actually have to put time and effort into sharing the good news of our Lord (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21). If we want to serve other people, we cannot sit around and talk about the possibility of service; we have to take up towels, fill up buckets of water, and actively serve people as Jesus did (John 13:1-20). When we have conflicts with other people, talking about the conflict to others will do nothing for us; we must take certain steps in order to resolve the conflict (Matthew 5:23-26; 18:15-20).
In our lives, we oftentimes cannot triumph over our trials by merely talking about them; however, that is not always the case. When we think about the difficulties that we encounter, we must take the time to talk to God. That is something that must be of the utmost importance and highest priority. As James says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray” (James 5:13). Throughout every circumstance of life, we are to “be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Regardless of what our lives look like, we must always “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Are you struggling physically? Talk to God about it. As James writes, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up” (James 4:14-15). As with any kind of prayer, God can always answer by saying, “No” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9); regardless of the answer that God gives in His ultimate wisdom and foresight, He wants us to ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7-8).
Are you struggling emotionally? Talk to your Father about it. As Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). While some types of emotional struggles might require other kinds of help and support, prayer is an essential part of replacing worry with the peace of God.
Are you struggling spiritually? You are not alone. There are many people who have never made the decision to come into a relationship with God or have wandered away from the truth of God’s word. In order to come into a relationship with God and be placed in Jesus, a person must first be baptized (Galatians 3:27; Acts 2:38). If you have been baptized into Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, a big part of overcoming spiritual trials is having a conversation with God. As James says, “And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:15-16). In a similar way, John says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). As Christians, when we struggle spiritually, we should always respond by talking to God. He promises to strengthen, uphold, and forgive.
All of us have a need to talk to God daily. As 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” Do we want to triumph over the trials in our lives? “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Talk to God not only about yourself but also about all people everywhere (1 Timothy 2:1).
-Tyler Alverson
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