PRAY WITH EARNEST INTENSITY

KEY TEXT: James 5:17 (KJV) – “Elias 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.”

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. He experienced the same human struggles that we face today. Scripture does not present Elijah as a superhuman prophet untouched by weakness. Instead, it shows that he wrestled with fear, discouragement, loneliness, exhaustion, and frustration.

Yet despite all these struggles, Elijah prayed earnestly, and God answered him in extraordinary ways.

Let us examine some of the struggles Elijah faced.

1. Fear for His Life

After Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal, Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him.

1 Kings 19:2–3 (KJV) – “² Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. ³ And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.”

What this shows

Elijah became afraid. He ran away for his life.

Even a great prophet of God can experience fear when faced with danger.

2. Deep Discouragement

After fleeing into the wilderness, Elijah became extremely discouraged.

1 Kings 19:4 (KJV) – “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”

What this shows

Elijah experienced:

• Emotional exhaustion
• Hopelessness
• The feeling that his work had failed

In his despair, he even asked God to take his life.

3. Loneliness

Elijah believed he was the only faithful servant of God remaining.

1 Kings 19:10 (KJV) – “And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

What this shows

He felt:

• Alone
• Isolated
• Unsupported

However, God later corrected Elijah’s perception in 1 Kings 19:18. God revealed that 7,000 people had not bowed to Baal. Elijah’s feeling of loneliness was real, but it was not accurate.

4. Physical Exhaustion

When Elijah fled into the desert, he collapsed from exhaustion.

1 Kings 19:5 (KJV) – “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.”

God sent an angel to bring him food because he was too weak to continue.

What this shows

Even prophets:

• Become tired
• Need rest
• Require physical strength

Faith does not always remove human emotions.

5. Frustration With Israel’s Sin

Elijah struggled deeply with the wickedness of Israel under King Ahab.

1 Kings 18:21 (KJV) – “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

What this shows

Elijah was:

• Frustrated
• Burdened by the rebellion of the people
• Tired of their double-mindedness

6. Discouragement After a Great Victory

One of the most surprising aspects of Elijah’s story is that he became discouraged immediately after a great spiritual victory.

At Mount Carmel, Elijah defeated 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).

Yet shortly afterward, he fled in fear.

This teaches us something important:

Great spiritual victories do not prevent emotional struggles.

Yet Elijah Prayed Earnestly

Despite his human weaknesses and struggles, Elijah prayed earnestly.

The Greek phrase used in James 5:17 for “prayed earnestly” is:

proseuchē proseuxato (προσευχῇ προσηύξατο)

Literal translation:

“He prayed with prayer.”

This is a Hebrew-style expression used for emphasis.

It means that Elijah prayed:

• Intensely
• Fervently
• Seriously
• Persistently

In other words:

He prayed with deep intensity.

The Context: James 5:16

James 5:17 comes immediately after another powerful statement about prayer.

James 5:16 (KJV) – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Fellowship and Community Prayer

Fellowship with one another and community prayer are very important.

We are often shy or embarrassed to share our prayer requests with others because we fear how they might view us.

Yet it is possible that God has placed the very person through whom He wants to answer our prayers right among us, and we fail to receive that blessing because we do not share our needs.

“The Effectual Fervent Prayer”

This phrase translates a single Greek word.

Greek: energeō (ἐνεργέω)

Meaning:

• Active
• Powerful
• Working with energy

This describes prayer that is:

• Alive
• Active
• Sincere
• Not mechanical

“Of a Righteous Man”

Greek word:

dikaios (δίκαιος)

Meaning:

• Just
• Upright
• In right standing with God

This does not mean perfect.

It refers to someone who:

• Walks with God
• Seeks to obey Him

“Availeth Much”

Greek phrase:

polu ischuei (πολύ ἰσχύει)

Breakdown:

• polu – much, greatly
• ischyō – to have strength, power, or to prevail

Meaning:

The intense and earnest prayer of a righteous man is very powerful and accomplishes great things.

Do Not Treat God Casually

Do not approach God casually.

When you go to court, you do not speak casually to the judge. When meeting a president, you do not prepare casually. When speaking to someone you deeply admire, you do not speak carelessly.

Then why should we speak to God casually?

When you pray, pray with intensity, earnestness, and deep sincerity.

And when you do, it will not merely be your human effort that produces results; the prayer itself will accomplish great things through the power of God.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that even Your prophets were human like us. When we feel afraid, discouraged, lonely, or exhausted, help us remember that we can come to You in prayer. Teach us to pray with sincerity, intensity, and faith. Let our prayers not be empty words, but living conversations with You. Strengthen our hearts and help us trust that You hear us and that our prayers are powerful through Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activity

Practice earnest prayer today.

1. Set aside 10–15 minutes of uninterrupted time with God.
2. Bring one serious burden or request before Him.
3. Pray about it earnestly and sincerely, not rushing through your words.
4. If possible, share this prayer request with a trusted Christian friend and ask them to pray with you.

As you do this, remember:
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth much.

Author: Mark Alex   

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