Why do we wrestle in Prayer? There are two aspects to this question: 1) why should we wrestle in prayer, and 2) why is it so difficult?
Why should we pray?
This is a profound and complex question. Why even pray when God knows everything and He is sovereign? Perhaps the simplest summary to this question can be found at GotQuestions. For example,
We come to God with our specific requests, and we have God’s promise that our prayers are not in vain, even if we do not receive specifically what we asked for (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:26-27). He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will, He will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes He delays His answers according to His wisdom and for our benefit. In these situations, we are to be diligent and persistent in prayer (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1-8). Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God’s will done on earth. God’s wisdom far exceeds our own.
See also: Why Do God’s People Pray?
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thess 5:16-18
God uses prayer to fulfill His purposes
James writes that the prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (Jam 5:14-20). He cites the example of Elijah who was in nature like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it wouldn’t rain for three years and six months, and God answered his prayer. Then when he prayed again, it rained.
Unfortunately we tend to gloss over these biblical miracles. When John Elias (1774-1841) prayed for rain to prevent horse races on a particular day which conflicted with a Methodist Association event, God answered. Edward Morgan noted that,
Elias’s spirit was much moved…he prayed to the Lord most earnestly in the morning of that day to put a stop to them. There was something remarkable in that prayer that someone observed, ‘Ahab must prepare his chariot and get away.’
As it turned out the sky soon became so dark that the town was obliged to light the gas in the shops. It rained heavily from eleven o’clock that morning until five the next day. The races crowd was dispersed and did not reassemble that year.
John Knox was also a great praying man. It has often been noted that Mary Stuart Queen of Scots once stated, “I fear the prayer of John Knox more than the combined armies [of Europe].” For more on Knox and other Puritans on prayer see Taking Hold of God by Beeke and Najapfour.
What prevents us from Praying?
According to James and Joel Beeke (Developing a Healthy Prayer Life), we wrestle against Satan and our own sin nature. They write that,
Our sinful nature is Satan’s ally. It is filled with enmity against God. By nature we try to be gods to ourselves – to handle our lives in our own way.
We live in a world full of distractions. It takes disciple to learn a sport or train our bodies. Praying also takes discipline. Praying is tough. In The Invisible War, Chip Ingram cites Elisabeth Elliot,
But prayer isn’t a sport. It’s work. Prayer is no game…Prayer is the opposite of leisure. It’s something to be engaged in, not indulged in. It’s a job you give priority to. It’s performing when you have energy left for nothing else.
Then there’s the devil
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor 4:4
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12
Satan doesn’t like pray-ers. He fears the prayers of the righteous; and doesn’t want his territory being encroached upon. Satan is the god of this world and guards that position jealously. Chip Ingram identified five occasions when Christians may come under satanic attack:
1) During spiritual growth
2) When invading enemy territory
3) When exposing the enemy
4) When one is breaking away from the world
5) When God is preparing an individual or corporation for a great work
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt attacked when it seemed my devotions and prayers were progressing. Charles Spurgeon also warned about this. See his book Prayer and Spiritual Warfare. See also the article Satanic Hindrances: Charles Spurgeon and Vern Poythress talks about Spiritual Warfare.
Why do we wrestle in prayer?
We are commanded to pray. We honor, worship and glorify God through prayer. God uses the prayers of the righteous. This world and the church need fervent prayer. We need our prayers! Even Spurgeon warned his congregation to continue to pray for him or he would be forced to resign.
Therefore let us continue to pray, always.
Maranatha!
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