Faith Beyond Our Control

Part 1: When Our Prayer Involves Someone Else

A New Devotional Series

There are some prayers where the next step is ours to take—and others where the answer involves a heart, decision, or action we cannot control. In this series, we are going deeper into what it means to pray, believe, intercede, stand, and trust God when the answer involves someone else.

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” — James 2:17 KJV.

Early this morning, while pondering prayer and faith, a question came to mind.

We often quote, “faith without works is dead.”

And we've heard the example many times: You can't pray for a job, say you have faith that God will provide one, but never submit an application or send out a résumé. There is an action connected to faith.

That makes sense.

But what happens when the answer to our prayer requires an action that isn't ours to take?

What about the mother praying for an estranged child to come home?

The spouse praying for an unsaved husband or wife?

The family praying for the salvation of someone they love?

Or someone believing God for restoration of a broken relationship?

Where are the “works” then?

We can submit our own application.

We can change our own habits.

We can work on our own finances.

But we cannot surrender someone else's heart.

We cannot repent for them.

We cannot make them forgive.

We cannot make them return.

We cannot make them choose God.

And maybe this is where faith becomes deeper than simply doing something.

Because sometimes the work of faith is not putting our hands on what we have already placed in God's hands.

That's difficult.

We say we trust God, but then we interfere.

We pray, but then we try to convince.

We surrender the situation to God, but then look for another opportunity to control the outcome.

We ask God to work on someone's heart while still trying to determine what the result of that work should look like.

Could it be that sometimes our greatest act of faith is restraint?

James 5:16 tells us to “pray one for another.” Ephesians 6 reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood.

So perhaps when another person's heart is involved, our responsibility changes.

We pray instead of manipulate. We intercede instead of interfere. We obey instead of obsess. We stand instead of chase. And we surrender what only God can touch.

But our intercession must go deeper than simply asking God for the transformation we want to see.

Instead of only praying, “Lord, change them,” perhaps our prayer should become:

“Lord, draw them closer to You. Open their spiritual eyes where they cannot see. Give them understanding where there is confusion. Soften what has become hardened. Heal what has been wounded. Teach them to forgive and receive forgiveness. Give them spiritual ears to hear Your voice and a heart that recognizes Your truth.”

Because what if the greatest answer to our prayer isn't getting someone to do what we want?

What if it is that person encountering God for themselves?

Perhaps mature intercession says:

“Lord, before I ask You to restore their relationship with me, I ask You to strengthen their relationship with You.”

Yes, faith has works.

But sometimes the “work” is allowing God to work without trying to become God in someone else's life.

And that leaves us with an uncomfortable question:

Have we truly placed the person in God's hands—or have we simply asked God to help us get the outcome we want?

There is a difference.

Maybe real faith says:

“God, I will do whatever You require of me. I will pray, obey, forgive, and stand. But I will not try to do what only You can do.”

And perhaps the deepest test of all is this:

Can we continue to trust God even if His work in that person's life does not produce the outcome we envisioned?

Reflection:

Who are you praying for that you cannot change?

Are you praying primarily for the outcome you desire—or for God's will and work in their life?

What belongs to you to do, and what have you been trying to do that belongs to God?

Prayer

Father, teach us how to pray when the answer involves someone else's heart. Purify our motives and teach us to desire Your will above our own. Give us wisdom to know when to act, when to stand, when to remain silent, and when to simply pray.

Open spiritual eyes, give understanding, soften hardened hearts, heal wounds, and draw those we love closer to You. Teach us to intercede without interfering and to trust You with what we cannot control.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Faith Beyond Our Control — A Devotional Series on Prayer, Faith, Intercession, and Surrender