Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias [Elijah] was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
—James 5:16-18
James knew that a faith that obtains healing is not the fruit of human nature; therefore, he added that the prayer must be “fervent.” In this James stood on the example of Elijah, a man of the same nature as we are, drawing the inference that our prayer ought to be of the same nature as his. How, then, did Elijah pray?
Elijah received from God the promise that rain was about to fall on the earth. (See 1 Kings 18:1.) Strong in the promise of his God, he went atop Mount Carmel to pray. (See verse 42; James 5:18.) He believed that God’s will was to send rain. Nevertheless, he had to pray, or the rain would not come. God willed that it would rain, but the rain would come only at Elijah’s request repeated with faith and perseverance until the appearance of the first cloud in the sky.
In order for the will of God to be accomplished, this will must, on one side, be expressed by a promise, and, on the other, be received and grasped by the believer who prays. He, therefore, must persevere in prayer to show God that his faith expects an answer and will not grow weary until it is obtained.
This is how prayer must be made for the sick. The promise of God, “The Lord will raise him up” (James 5:15), must be rested on, and His will to heal recognized. Jesus Himself teaches us to pray with faith that counts on the answer of God, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (See Mark 11:24 nkjv.) After the prayer of faith, which receives what God has promised before it manifests itself, comes the prayer of perseverance, which does not lose sight of what has been asked until God has fulfilled His promise. (See 1 Kings 18:43.)
Where healing is delayed, let us remember that obstacles may exist over which only perseverance in prayer can triumph. Faith that ceases to pray cannot take hold of what God has nevertheless given. Do not let your faith be shaken by those things that are as yet beyond your reach. God’s promise remains the same: “The prayer of faith shall save the sick” (James 5:15).