Ehausting Prayer

A few years ago my associate pastor responded to a call from a local hospital. An older teen had gotten into an automobile accident with his brother and was injured to the point of being brain dead. He was only alive due to life support. When he was removed from life support he died within a few minutes. The family was strong in their faith, believing that God could and would raise their son from the dead. They took him home and had an ongoing prayer meeting for approximately four days, right up until minutes before the funeral. God did not raise the boy from the dead.

Many questions arose from their decision to take their boy home. Legal questions about the hospital releasing the body, questions regarding laws concerning having a dead body in a private home, even ethical, moral and practical questions about having his younger elementary-aged siblings in the house while the brother was laid out in a room so people could come by and pray. Other questions arose as well, such as, would I go to such extremes if I were in their position. These questions and others were discussed at the time. The looming question for me was, “Do I really believe that God will raise people from the dead?” That question was continually examined in my heart of hearts.

Now the same question has resurfaced for me when I found out yesterday that the 22 year old son of our friends died suddenly and that they are holding some kind of prayer vigil for him. He died Wednesday and as of the writing of this blog they are still praying for God to raise him from the dead. Again, the questions flood my mind with the big one looming, “Do I believe that God will raise people from the dead?”

I can easily say, of course, I believe God can raise people from the dead. Just a few years ago I saw convincing video documentation of a man being raised from the dead in Africa. Also, my father had died and was gone for about ten minutes before he was brought back. It was in a hospital setting so it was call resuscitation. But, what I do know is that he died, we called a number of people to pray and he came back to life. Later that night he received Jesus as his Savior and was with us for three more days before he went on to be with Jesus.

This question goes much deeper than, “Do I believe God can?” The question is, “Do I believe He will?” I am convinced that a lot of people believe God can do anything. But, they don’t act upon that belief with confidence that He will. Rick Warren says, “We only believe in the Bible to the extent of what we do.” If I really believe that God will, then shouldn’t I pray differently?

I am asking God to raise my friends’ son from the dead, but am I praying with confidence? I wrestle with practical questions. When Jesus raised people from the dead it wasn’t a protracted event – He prayed and they arose. Should that be the way it is? If we pray and people aren’t raised then isn’t that a “no”? Does the effectual fervent prayer of James 5 kick in and if so, how does that apply to praying for a dead person. How long do you pray before having a funeral if the person isn’t raised?

Perhaps this raises a bigger question than whether or not God raises people from the dead. The question is, “How long should I pray before I accept the answer as ‘no’ and then move on?” I like the way The Message puts Ephesians 6:13: “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet.” How do you know you have done everything you can, for as long as you should?

I know when Evie, our granddaughter stopped breathing and Cherie’ called, frantic for prayer, I stopped what I was doing and prayed with great intensity. God took care of Evie and she is a healthy two year old. I love the 22 year old young man whose death sparked this thinking again and have watched this boy grow into a wonderful young man. I am praying for his resurrection with the question, “How do I determine if what I am doing, if what his family is doing is enough?” I am not as emotionally motivated when praying for him as I was for Evie, does that matter?

I have drawn some conclusions about praying for him as well as praying for things that have huge ramifications, whatever way they are answered. I find myself leaning on the conclusions I had settled long ago. Yet, times like these make me wonder, have I done everything I can and should, for as long as I should? Is it time to stand or have I settled for a comfortable solution so I can say I prayed and can put it behind me?

I don’t write this to attempt to give you any answers; rather I write this to challenge you to ask yourself some hard questions to insure that you are standing on a sure foundation of faith. William Cary said, “Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God.” I know that my friends’ actions are controversial. “Are you willing to stick your neck out for what you believe?” is another question worth pondering. It seems to me that my friends are attempting and expecting great things. I, for one, have already been affected by them doing all they can to stand.