In Case of Trouble Let Me Know

James 5:13 – Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

An entire pericope is dedicated to the importance of prayer, James 5:13-18. The emphasis is, do not go through anything dire without praying. God wants us to let Him know through prayer. In case of trouble let me know!

Prayer is us talking to God. When He asks us to pray, He is asking us to talk to Him about the situation. Is anyone among us sick, let him or her inform God through prayer. In case of trouble let me know!

James 5:14 – Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.

If sickness comes and you are overwhelmed, call church leaders, so that they can let God know. Prayer is talking to God. God has asked us to pray. In case of trouble let me know!

James 5:15 – And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

When you let God know and you believe He cares enough to heal, God will heal the person. The prayer does not heal. God heals. There is no power in prayer, but there is power in the God we pray to. There are no powerful prayers, unless the one praying has faith and is righteous.

James 5:16 – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Prayer is said to be powerful on condition it is done in faith. Prayer is said to be powerful if the one praying is righteous, that means he or she has a good relationship with God. Prayer is not powerful because of how loud we pray or how long we pray or the vocabulary we use.

The effectiveness of prayer is directly related to our relationship with God whom we pray to. Prayer of faith has to do with believing and trusting God. A righteous person is one who pleases God. A good relationship with God is a prerequisite to effective prayer!

When God asks us to let Him know in case of anything, He is asking those who trust Him and have a good relationship with Him. It’s a friendly reminder, that He cares for us, therefore if anything goes wrong, we who are His friends, should let Him know. In case of trouble let me know!

James 5:17-18 – Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

The point is, prayer is not for certain people only. Elijah the prophet was as ordinary as you and me, yet God answered his prayer. You too can pray and God answers you. As ordinary as you are, cultivate a good relationship with God through Bible study, church attendance and participation in worship, and regular prayer. As ordinary as you are, just like Elijah, God will answer your prayers!

Do not seek prayer experts. Do not go to people who ask you for money so that they pray for you. Do not go to people who take you through weird rituals that are falsely said to guarantee answers to prayer. You can pray and it is enough, God will respond to you!

We pray sometimes in groups to encourage each other to trust God. Otherwise, even an individual can petition God and He will answer. In case of trouble let me know!

God wants to hear from His friends. Prayer experts are not the only friends of God. You too are a friend of God. In case of trouble let your friend know!

“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.” Steps to Christ 93.2

“What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.”

Cultivate a good relationship with God in good times and bad times. Let God be your friend. In case of trouble, let God your friend know that you are in trouble. Start cultivating that relationship with God today. Let God know of any trouble today. May God deliver you and me today, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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