The prayer of faith in James 5:13-18 is a powerful and often misunderstood passage. Is James really saying that we will be healed if we pray with enough faith? Is he saying that only the prayers of the elders will heal a person? Or is he talking about spiritual healing and not physical healing? This passage offers profound wisdom on the power of prayer in every circumstance, reminding us of its central role in our spiritual lives. There are rich lessons found in these verses as we explore how they challenge and inspire us to make prayer an integral part of our daily walk with God.
At first glance, verse 15 appears to say that God promises healing to those who have prayed in faith. Hezekiah prayed for healing, and God added fifteen years to his life (Isaiah 38). However, we read other passages of Scripture that contradict this idea. For example, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, we see the apostle Paul pleading three times with God to remove the thorn from his side. But God did not remove it and reminded Paul that His grace was enough. Even Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, asked God the Father to “let this cup pass from me (Matthew 26:39-44).” Paul and Jesus were men of great faith, but their prayers for relief from physical pain were not answered.
The difference was not in the prayer but in God’s will. All three men prayed with full confidence of God’s power to heal. The prayer of faith is offered in faith, and part of faith is trusting that God knows best. They were reminded that God’s purposes are greater than theirs, and those purposes do not always make sense to us. Similarly, we are to pray in faith, trusting God for the results. We should pray with unwavering confidence that God will always do what is right. There will be times of physical healing, and there will be times of no healing. But God’s grace is enough, and His will always come to fruition
While physical healing is not always guaranteed, God does offer us something far greater. He offers us spiritual healing through forgiveness of our sins. While in our current physical state, God’s glory will be on display, whether we are healed or not. In either situation, we can trust that God knows best and His will is being done. But one day, we will be free from all sin, sickness, and physical ailments. God will raise us up with new bodies after we depart from our earthly form. Our ultimate hope is not in earthly healing but in spiritual healing and eternity to come. Therefore, we continue to trust God and pray in faith for His will to be done in our lives.
Besides the meaning of the prayer of faith, there are a few other lessons we can learn from this passage.
- We must pray all the time. James opens this part of his letter with a series of questions that he answers himself. In doing so, he is exhorting his readers to pray all the time. We are to pray when we are suffering. We are to sing praise when we are cheerful. We are to call the elders of the church to pray over us when we are sick. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” The point here is simple: we must be praying all the time. Prayer demonstrates our continual dependence on God for all things in all circumstances.
- We should pray the prayer of faith. James tells us in the beginning of his letter to ask in faith without doubt (James 1:6). He goes on to say, “For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind (v. 7).” To pray in faith means to be stable on the foundation of God’s grace. To have faith is to trust Him with whatever circumstance we may find ourselves in and to know that His purpose will be fulfilled. His answer may not be what we have hoped for, but it is what God wants in our lives.
- Spiritual healing happens when we confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. James reminds us that the Christian life is meant to be lived in community. Part of living in the community of believers is to uphold one another in prayer and to encourage one another to righteous living. Those who desire spiritual healing and joy will take this commandment to confess their sins to others seriously. God has provided the church community as a means of His grace in our lives.
- You do not have to be a “super” Christian or specially blessed by God to pray the prayer of faith. James encourages us with Elijah’s example as a “man with a nature like ours (5:17).” This means that Elijah was a sinner just like us. However, he was a man who believed in the power of prayer. He prayed fervently to God, and God answered. Scripture does not tell us that Elijah was an eloquent speaker or that he had an extraordinary gift of faith. But it does tell us that he was righteous, faithful, and diligent in prayer. We should be encouraged by this and know that God hears our prayers.
James 5:13-18 serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative role prayer can play in every aspect of our lives. Whether we are celebrating, suffering, or seeking healing, these verses call us to turn to God with unwavering faith. They encourage us to embrace prayer not just as a personal practice but as a communal act that binds us together in faith, support, and healing. As James teaches, it is through sincere, faith-filled prayer that we can experience God’s profound work in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
