Why Prayer Still Matters in a World of Suffering: Wrestling with Faith, Healing, and the Silence of God

Episode • Feb 6, 2017 • 52m

How does prayer work in a world marked by injustice, trauma, and unanswered cries? Mike Erre and Andy tackle one of the hardest and most personal questions the Voxology community has ever wrestled with: Why do some prayers seem to be answered while others—especially those for safety and healing—go unanswered? Using an honest question from a listener as the foundation, this episode takes a deep dive into the complexities of prayer, God's sovereignty, the problem of evil, and what "answered prayer" truly means when held up against global suffering like Aleppo or the death of a child.

This isn’t about quick solutions or spiritual platitudes. Mike and Andy explore why drawing straight lines between outcome and God's will often leads to distorted theology and wounded hearts. Instead, they argue for a richer, more biblically grounded approach that embraces mystery, laments with hope, and chooses trust even in the silence.

Key Takeaways: • The Role of Prayer in Partnership with God – Prayer isn’t about control but influence, intimacy, and cooperation with a God who desires relationship, not puppets. • Why "It Must Be God’s Will" is Harmful – Debunking this simplistic response with biblical texts that show other wills—human and demonic—are at work in the world. • Faith is Participation, Not Certainty – How the Bible presents faith as movement toward God, not psychological confidence, and why formulas around “enough faith” can be spiritually abusive. • The Power of “I Don’t Know” – Why humility, not certainty, is the most Christ-like and pastoral response to suffering. • What Prayer Cultivates in Us – Prayer changes how we speak, see, and align ourselves with the heart of Jesus, even when we don’t understand the outcomes.

Resources Mentioned: • The Book of Daniel, particularly Daniel 10 – Exploring the cosmic battle that interrupted answered prayer. • James 4:3 – On asking with the wrong motives. • Mark 9:24 – “I do believe; help my unbelief.” • Bruce Almighty (2003) – Used for theological humor and metaphor around prayer and divine control. • The “Stages of Faith” and related previous episodes – Look for episodes around faith, doubt, and deconstruction.

Join us in embracing a deeper conversation on prayer—one that leads not to perfection or predictive theology, but to a more honest and sacred space of trust, action, and mystery. If this episode resonates with you, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology on your favorite platform to stay part of the journey.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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