Not Sidelined but Reassigned
SHIRLEE ABBOTT
Lee en español
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16b (NLT)
My adult children sometimes share an exciting opportunity or unexpected concern, asking me to tell no one else. I ask, “Not even Granny?” Almost always, they do want her to know.
Why? They want their issue added to their grandma’s prayer list — the sooner, the better.
My mother seems to have a direct line to God. When she prays, things happen. In her younger days, she also taught Sunday school, worked on countless church committees, and made dozens of bake-sale pies. But in her mid-90s, those acts of service are no longer physically possible.
Some might think she’s been sidelined by her aches and pains. I disagree. She’s not sidelined but reassigned to the frontline work of God’s Kingdom: prayer.
We often overrate other activities and underrate prayer. But Scripture declares, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16b).
These qualities of earnestness and righteousness are often evident in senior saints, as decades of Bible study and faithful obedience pay off in powerful prayer.
James 5:17-18 offers an Old Testament example: “Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops” (NLT).
Elijah, one of God’s prophets, consistently proved himself righteous. And while we don't know his age, we do know his prayers weren’t just casual suggestions. “Earnestly” he poured his heart out before God.
You can read more about Elijah’s prayers in 1 Kings 17-18. He prayed first for a drought and later for rain. Sandwiched between these two prayers, we also see Elijah on Mount Carmel standing against 450 prophets of Baal.
Clearly, Elijah was on the frontline of the battle against darkness. And there on the mountain, another of his earnest prayers brought the fire of God from heaven to earth.
My mother isn’t an Old Testament prophet, and her prayers don’t regularly change the weather. They may not even bring the answers we hope for. But they often make the wait go more smoothly, with more peace and fewer stumbling blocks.
By God’s grace, my mother’s prayers (and those of like-minded friends) have shepherded loved ones through job hunts, financial setbacks, and worrisome medical treatments. They have driven out fear and moved events forward.
I used to think prayer was a sideline activity, a lesser act of service to God. I now know better. Prayer is the ultimate weapon in the battle against evil.
What about you, my friend? Do you feel sidelined by your circumstances, like you have less to offer than others? Perhaps God is reassigning you to a ministry of earnest prayer.
O Lord, forgive me for pushing prayer to the side, forgetting it is a powerful weapon. I want to be like Elijah and step up to the frontlines. Teach me to pour out my heart in earnest prayer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
It can be so disillusioning to pray about things that are breaking our heart, especially when it seems like God is not intervening. In the Therapy & Theology episode “How Can I Trust God When I Don’t Understand What He Allows?,” Lysa, Jim, and Joel will meet you in your honest questions and help you begin to see that faith in God means being assured of His goodness even when what He allows doesn't feel good, seem good, or look good right now. Listen now!
ENGAGE
Read Shirlee’s constructive thoughts and morning prayers on her Souls Under Construction website, or follow her on Facebook.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (NLT).
We may not be facing 450 false prophets like Elijah, but in some way each of us is engaged in battle against evil. We look to the earnest, righteous prayer warriors on the frontlines for support.
Who are the prayer warriors you turn to when challenges pop up? How can you become someone others go to for prayer support? What steps can you take to pray more earnestly? Share with us in the comments!
© 2026 by Shirlee Abbott. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Wednesday, 21 January 2026.
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