Luther on Prayer

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Rachel prayed and wept and sighed for six years, during which time her patience was tried and called into exercise. It was a most heavy cross to bear the reproach of barrenness for so long a time. I believe that her grief was such as to expel from her mind not only all lightness but also all joy and that she passed her days and nights in prayer with constant sighs and tears.

When Moses said, “God remembered Rachel,” it implied that she was almost in despair and was persuaded in her mind that God would never think of her but would forget her forever; yet in her despair she retained some spark of faith, namely, the groaning which Paul says cannot be uttered. This was so deep, buried, and overwhelmed with impossibility and the contrary emotions of the mind that she could hardly feel any sob or sigh. Also Hannah, the mother of Samuel, despaired of offspring, and God, who searches the heart, understood her groaning desires which were neither uttered nor perceived outwardly.

Augustine also relates that his mother Monica lamented for nine years and deplored the destruction of her son who had fallen into the errors of the Manichees. All she desired was that God would convert him, and for this cause she wanted to have him marry a Christian wife so that, if possible, by the conversation of a godly woman, he might be restored to the way. This the Lord seemed to deny; yet all the while He was listening to that groaning which was not uttered.

... then be thou strong and endure and holdfast, by the grace of God. For this is the conflict of the saints who think the string on the very point of breaking yet there is this sigh. Flere is prayer most perfect, most strong.

As the groaning cannot be uttered, no more can the answer or joy, as Paul says, “To Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” He does not give what His saints ask on the surface of their heart and, as it were, in a form of words, but is an almighty and bounteous Giver according to that deep groaning. Therefore, He suffers our prayers to become more intense and earnest and does not seem to hear them at once, for if He were to answer at the first cry or petition, our prayers would be cold. Therefore, He delays His help, and the Spirit of prayer increases daily, and the groaning of the heart becomes deeper and more earnest until it comes, as it were, to despair. Then does prayer become most earnest and intense when this groan seems to fail.

Without this delay, our prayers would come only from the surface and be only as a schoolboy’s prayer, who is yet learning to pray, to groan, to long, but is not a master in praying. However, when we are come to the point of despair and the tempted soul thinks, “Ah! It will end in nothing; all is lost!” and yet there is the spark and smoking flax, then be thou strong and endure and hold fast, by the grace of God. For this is the conflict of the saints who think the string on the very point of breaking, yet there is this sigh. Here is prayer most perfect, most strong.

Thus, here Rachel thinks God has forgotten her, but God never was unmindful of thee; immediately when thou didst begin to ask for offspring, He heard all thy sighing. The prayer was not yet earnest enough; it must kindle and increase. For that reason, God delayed to the second, third, fourth, and fifth year; then He gave a little comfort by means of the handmaid. The groaning was not yet appeased; God seemed averse. Then, God remembered thee, though He never forgot thee for one moment, but this was to be the time for hearing thy sighs, when thou didst think them buried out of sight.

In this way we may be encouraged to ask and expect help when things are against us and faith wavers. We have the promise of the gospel and the command bidding us to pray and the Spirit of grace and supplication. When we first begin to pray, the mind is tortured and complains that it gains nothing; from that thou must learn that if asking appears of no avail, to join seeking, and if that seems of no use and God seems to hide Himself more, knock as thou art enabled. Cease not, till the door which is now shut is opened, for there is no doubt that our prayer is heard when the first syllable is uttered, as the angel said to Daniel.

God does not give at once what we ask because He will be overcome by importunity, as He teaches us by the parable of the unjust judge, for He comes then and frees His elect and gives more abundantly than our asking, seeking, or knocking. This is the effect of that groan not formed into words and that cry of the heart when it sobs and sighs and almost faints from oppression. These things must be often repeated that we may not cast away confidence of our prayers being heard, though in the beginning they are cold and bring not in help; this is deferred that our prayers may be more earnest, for the virtue and omnipotence of prayer is wonderful.

Rachel, though she seemed neglected of God, yet as she remained this smoking flax, He could not but awake when called upon and sought and importuned by the grace that was in her heart. In the same way He is present to all who call on Him and will answer so abundantly that these shall be forced to acknowledge they never expected any such thing. Thus, Augustine’s mother might have said, “I never sought this. I did not dare to hope that my son would be such a teacher in the Church.” God help us, therefore, not to faint, but to persevere in calling, desiring, and seeking, until hope and the looked-for enlargement shine upon us.

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