Prayer in a Time of Need

My brother-in-law was just diagnosed with cancer. My sister says it's in his heart, around his heart, and near his liver. He is now undergoing chemotherapy, although the prognosis doesn't look good.

At which time one prays. But what does one pray for? Is one selfish enough to pray for recovery so that children (ages 16, 13, and 11) aren't left fatherless? Or do I meekly pray that God's will be done-and not challenge him?

Lutherans, alas, aren't too good at prayers. I'm not sure why that is. Martin Luther placed a great emphasis on prayer. He would say he wouldn't begin the day without an hour of prayer; more if the workload was heavier. He knew where his strength came from.

He also faced the struggle of watching close friends and family die. His daughter lay on her deathbed as Luther furiously prayed. Reluctantly, he allowed his God to take home another lamb won by His blood. Melanchthon himself was deathly ill. Again, Luther prayed that the Lord spare his life. This prayer God answered in the affirmative. In the ensuing years, with Melanchthon's editing of the Augsburg Confession, some Lutherans have questioned whether this was a good answer to prayer. But even in the resulting controversies God has likely worked things out for the benefit of his people.

In Scripture we see some rather bold people pray to God.

Abraham was told that Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed. Abraham first asked God not to be angry and asked, "Will you destroy the righteous with the wicked? What if you find fifty righteous in the place?" God promised he would spare the cities for fifty. Abraham kept asking, whittling that number down to five righteous people. God promised he wouldn't destroy the city if five righteous people were found. (Genesis 18:16-33)

At most, only four righteous people were found.

Abraham's servant, sent to find a wife for Isaac, also takes a leap of faith in prayer. He told God what he expected the right girl to say and do once he reached the well. Wouldn't you know it, Rebekah says and does exactly as Eliezer asked God for the sign! (Genesis 24)

No doubt the picture of Gideon comes to mind. When the angel of the Lord comes to Gideon, and calls him "mighty," Gideon asks him to stay until he can bring an offering. The angel of the Lord consumes the meat and bread, soaked with broth, with a consuming flame. Convincing, right? I'll bet any one of us would be willing to go into battle. But not Gideon! He wanted proof. What does he ask? He placed fleece outside his door and asked that the dew fall on the fleece, but the ground should remain dry. It happened as he asked. Next, Gideon asked that the following day the dew be on the ground but the fleece remain dry. Again it was done. After three signs Gideon finally agrees to go into battle. (Judges 6)

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