No one is exempt from trials in this life. This reality has been on full display during these unprecedented and uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic. People are not only losing their jobs, but many are losing their loved ones and even their own lives. So how do we as Christians pray during these times, more specifically, what do we pray for?
James helps to give us an answer. In the first chapter of James, he writes that when we face trials, “consider it pure joy” because these trials are testing our faith, which will lead to steadfastness. Then if we continue to persevere, we will be made complete and mature in our faith. After detailing this process, James writes that to persevere in our faith, we should ask God for wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
When we go through trials, we oftentimes pray for God to rescue us ASAP. We pray that revival and healing would be right around the corner. We ask that greener pastures would be only a few steps away.
None of these prayers are wrong, but James doesn’t tell us to pray for any of those things. Rather, he tells us to pray for godly wisdom. Here are a few thoughts on why we ought to pray for wisdom during these trying times.
1. Godly wisdom allows us to see that trials are opportunities for us to grow deeper in our understanding and love for God
If God took away our pains instantaneously, there wouldn’t be much to learn. As we persevere through our trials, wisdom allows us to learn about God’s provision, God’s providence, God’s sovereignty, and God’s love for his children. We may not understand why certain things happen in this life, but with wisdom, trials become opportunities where we can learn more about the character of God and fall deeper in love with him.
2. Godly wisdom during trials exposes our views and expectations about life
It’s essential to have correct expectations about life. We live in a sin-infested world that is naturally bent towards evil, and the fact is that we were never promised an easy and trial-free life. In fact, Christians are called to take up their cross daily.
Much of our suffering comes from how we interpret and understand our trials. If we don’t expect trials to be present in our lives, there’s a good chance we will become shocked, angry, and bitter. If we expect trials to be part of our lives, we won’t be surprised by it when it does come. As Christians, we know there will always be suffering on this side of eternity. So we ought not to be surprised when a disease like COVID-19 brings havoc and death. It takes heavenly wisdom to have the proper expectations about this life and to respond accordingly.
3. When we pray for Godly wisdom during trials, God gives us ministries
When there are hardships, we tend to focus inwards. Seeking the wisdom of God is really seeking God himself. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” When we continually pray and seek God’s wisdom, something remarkable happens. Our focus now shifts from ourselves to our Heavenly Father, and to others. The two greatest commandments — to love God, and to love others — become our focus. When our heart becomes his heart, we start to pray and intercede for others and seek heavenly inspiration to share God’s heart tangibly. God has now given us this ministry.
We are living in unprecedented times with the trials of this COVID-19 pandemic. Scripture tells us that there will be more trials that will impact this world until the return of our Savior. The good news is that God was not surprised by this pandemic nor will he be surprised by any future pandemics. We, too, ought not to be surprised by the trials of today and tomorrow.
James encourages us to pray for godly wisdom because these trials, as much as they can be painful, are also opportunities. So let us take these opportunities to learn more about the character of God, to correct our views and expectations about life, and to minister to God’s people.