The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Faith in Prayer

In this broken world, believers face many difficulties and sorrows. How is it possible to remember the Lord’s good and sovereign purposes when facing such trials? The gift of divine wisdom is needed, and James reminds us that God is not a giver who scolds or gives halfheartedly or changes his mind. God generously, with unwavering intent, gives wisdom to those who ask. God does not demean or reproach us because we are needy and frail.

In approaching God in prayer, however, one thing is necessary: faith.

James contrasts the constancy of God the giver with the erratic doubter. Here James employs one of his many memorable images: the tossing of an unpredictable and erratic sea billow as a picture of the one who doubts God.

James is not commanding the believer to work up some sort of extraordinary belief that God will answer a prayer in some specific way. The faith that is required is to believe that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is all-good, all-loving, and all-powerful, and he wants to give us wisdom to view our trials from his perspective.

If we have lingering fears and doubts, God is pleased with our honest confession and cry for help, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24).

Taken from the NIV Grace & Truth Study Bible.