Prayer in Suffering (James: Sermon 31)

Introduction

As distress falls upon us during trials or afflictions of any kind, James has helped us to understand that the weight and pressure we feel can be understood as a redemptive gravity pulling our attention and experience towards exiled parts of our own broken heart that need to be reconciled through repentance and faith.

We have learned that the parts that are most "dispersed" are those that have been most cursed.

Why? Because they hold BOTH our most glory/gifting as well as our most pain and suffering.

In other words, the WAY to wholeness and joy is through sorrow and suffering.

The Way to the glorious resurrection passes through an agonizing death and a very dark burial.

Transition

It is understandable, therefore, why most are reluctant to choose this path; and are even contemptuous towards this "Way" of life. No one likes unjust executions or agonizing funerals.

Because we are mostly reluctant to choose this Way, the Way actually chooses us (I am the Way - you didn't choose me, I chose you). James helps us to understand that various trials are, in reality, the Way knocking on the door of our hearts.

If we open the door we will see freedom, hope, joy, and love. But when we look at the Way - the One knocking - we see pierced hands, feet, and scar on his side. So when he says follow me, we are immediately met with the heavy question, "What will we do?" Will we follow him (into a life of death and resurrection) or go our own WAY (that attempts to get rid of the death)?

Point 1: Example Based on True Story

Example based on a true story: There is a couple who went to Italy and as they sat in a restaurant there, they noticed their favorite artist who is a world renowned painter. They immediately were filled with desire to ask for his autograph - a small sketch on a napkin. Before approaching her, they called their daughter, who was getting her Phd in art history in college - who then became filled with excitement at the prospect of getting a small sketch from this artist. So, they go over to her and ask, "Madam, we know who you are and love your work. Would you be so kind as to sketch something on this napkin for our family?" The artist replied, "Sure. I would love to." And after taking about three minutes, she handed the excited couple a napkin with one of the most beautiful flower sketches they had ever seen. Overwhelmingly, they exclaimed, "Thank you so much!" and began to walk away. But the artist called to them and said, "I am happy to draw that for you. But that will be $15,000." The couple immediately felt a turn in their stomach, and heat in their eyes as they responded, "But that only took you three minutes!" To which the artist responded, "No, that took me thirty years."

she invited them into his suffering by asking a high price

they tried to exit the suffering by grumbling against her - they wanted the beauty, but without the suffering.

Transition:

We all want the prize, but we are all reluctant to pay the price - we all want life, but don't want to hear that we have to lose it as well.

Point 2: We try and find another way, only without the afflictions.

If we are honest, the way this couple felt toward the artist is the way many of us feel towards Jesus. And so:

We grumble: We look to others to be our flower (grumbling)

we look for other cheaper paintings but that also look beautiful - prints even

but they are never the real thing - and we grumble against them for their flaws

We swear oaths: We demand others be our flower (do you promise?) and we agree (yes, I promise)

we find someone who says they will paint it for cheap - and we make them swear they will do it flawlessly. there is a lot on the line, so we make them use their words on the outside to become someone they are not on the inside.

we arrogantly say we will practice and will paint it ourselves and swear that we will produce

We envy and covet: We turn in contempt toward others who have the flower (who have an authentic painting)

we turn from our inner longing to outward hatred.

why do we hate another who has the flower? because, at the same time, they remind us that the flower is still out there able to be attained AND that it is not ours.

When we see others with the flower, we are also reminded of the price we were not willing to pay and so we feel shame and guilt. Instead of repenting of this, we remove the reminder.

when another has the flower, it awakens our hope and re-invites us to the WAY that includes death and resurrection - and so we seek their ruin so that we are not reminded.

If we don't have the flower, we often hate those who remind us of it.

Transition:

So, James knows that Jesus, his brother is relentless to invite and even invade the lives of those he loves. James knows that his brother and his Lord has a gravitational pull to him that is redemptive and good, but also difficult and agonizing. James knows that every time we refrain from grumbling or swearing AND every time we resist the temptation to envy or covet, we are actively taking one more step with the Way toward Joy and suffering. In resisting grumbling, there is suffering. In keeping from swearing, there is suffering. And in resisting envy, there is great suffering. And so James says, "Is any among you suffering?"

Point 3: It is good to simply answer the question

Note: hardship and suffering are NOT the same thing. Just because life is hard or difficult doesn't mean we are suffering. Suffering is when we resist pressing the release valves of grumbling, swearing, and envying and thus "bear hardships patiently."

It is good to just answer the question and name what is true about you.

During these times of various trials do you find yourselves grumbling, swearing, or envious?

Swearing that we won't do this or that again?

swearing oaths is often the energy behind overwork (which is a natural avoidant of suffering)

making up for past failures, not wanting people to feel the suffering of your limits

Grumbling against our authorities?

Envious that someone else is experiencing less hardship than you?

Facebook and social media are excellent places to find something to grumble about

and someone to be envious of.

The times when this is true, it is good to simply say, "I am choosing not to suffer during this difficult time. Therefore, I am throwing my pain off upon someone else. I repent and lose my life so that I might save it."

The times when we are resisting these things, it is good to say (even to others), "Yes, I am suffering."

What are we saying when we are suffering?

We are saying that the deepest longings of our hearts are now throbbing because they are seemingly unmet.

We are saying that we are currently listening and accepting life as it is happening to us without manipulating and forcing others to make our discomfort go away.

We are admitting that there is a depth that is being called upon that cannot be soothed or comforted or satisfied by any other than God himself.

Gospel: And so we follow the words of James and we pray.

Prayer and poverty go hand in hand. Very few people pray who do not know poverty. That is why prayer is often done from the ground.

This is a legitimate option that has made its way to us over two thousand years.

Ps 50:15 - and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

In prayer, you will meet God who is kind, steadfast, not withholding, and who has forgiven you.

There are many prayers that are so poor that they don't have words - and some do (Ps 62)

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

You will not find him contemptuous towards your desires, but kind and full of blessing.

Ps 145 - The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.