Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WHEN YOU BELIEVE

WHEN YOU BELIEVE

Many night we prayed

With no proof anyone could hear…

Now we are not afraid

Although we know there’s much to fear…for

There can be miracles

When you believe

Though hope is frail

Its hard to kill

Who knows what miracles 

You can achieve

When you believe somehow you will

You will when you believe.*

Do you still believe in miracles? Do you still believe in prayer? Do you still believe miracles can happen through prayer? It says that, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). The key words here seem to be fervent and righteous, for James continued to tell of Elijah who earnestly prayed that it would not rain and it did not for three and a half years. And he prayed again after that time, and the heaven gave rain.

In 2 Samuel it states that David prayed for his son to be healed after Nathan foretold the child’s death, but David had not been right before God.  He had sinned in his dealings with Bathsheba and so God did not save the child and he died (2 Samuel 11).

So what has this to do with our present situation and the pandemic. Science and Public Health have both provided us with help and direction in suppressing and controlling this virus but neither to date has found a way to eradicate the problem. So would it hurt to pray as well as follow the experts advice? Are we righteous enough and do we have enough faith for prayer to be effective?  It says in Hebrews: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Or are we more like David, whose prayers were not answered due to his sin and lack of righteous behaviour?

In the past, corporate prayer has been shown to be helpful when exercised properly. At the time of the bubonic plague in the 1600s, over 60% of the European population died. In the village of Oberammergau in Germany, 81 villagers died in 33 days. This was half of the village population at the time. On October 28^th, 1633, the village prayed, vowing to God that they would honour Him if He would spare them from the plague. After that time, no one in the village died of the plague and as a result, the Passion Play has been done in the village every 10 years since that time in 1633 with only two exceptions, during WWII and presently due to Covid-19.

In 1746, the citizens of the Boston area were terrified due to an impending invasion by a powerful French fleet and army. When Governor William Shirley declared a day of prayer and fasting, citizens overflowed the meeting House to pray for deliverance. Historian Catherine Bowen reported that before long the sky darkened, wind came up, and an intense storm erupted; with the result the French fleet was devastated and Boston spared.

In 1849, Asiatic cholera was killing thousands of people in the United States.  Deaths were so frequent that in some cities the dead were being buried in mass graves.  There were no resources at that time to fight the disease (not like those we have today) and so President Zachery Taylor relied on something else. He called for a National Day of Prayer, and on August 3^rd,1849 people all over America filled churches to humble themselves, to acknowledge their sins, and to ask for Divine Mercy. The President himself lead this day of prayer.  By the end of August, the death rate dropped suddenly and the plague abated. **

As this present situation continues, we all need to follow the guidelines as put forward by Public Health and the authorities. But perhaps, as nations, we should also consider the potential that could come by humbling ourselves, acknowledging our wrongdoings, and asking for Divine intervention. The Bible does say “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). 

Perhaps it’s just something we should try, after all, it has helped before. And who knows, miracles still might happen when we humble ourselves and pray. And when we believe, who knows what miracles we might achieve.

It’s certainly something to think about.

*When You Believe by Stephen Schwartz from the movie The Prince of Egypt

** From Daily in His Presence pg 243 By David Jeremiah