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If you were facing a difficult situation today—sickness, financial pressure, a tough business decision, a troubled relationship, or any other challenge—how would you pray?

Would you ask God to fix the situation, to work a miracle? Or would you pray for wisdom?

Most people would pray for a miracle. They want God to deliver them from the problem. And you can be certain of this: God does want you delivered.

We all know we should pray about everything and look for God’s help in our time of need. But what we often forget is that there are many kinds of prayer, and not every type is effective in every situation. Yet God gives us clear instructions for how to pray when we are being tested or tempted.

The Greek word translated “tested” means to be tempted to do evil, tested, examined, or made to strain. Unfortunately, many believers have been taught that God orchestrates these hardships to accomplish some mystical agenda. But the Bible tells us something very different:

Let no one say when he is tempted, tested, tried, scrutinized, or made to strain, I am tempted by God! (James 1:13).

Under no circumstances should we ever blame God for the struggles we face. He cannot be both the tormentor and the deliverer—He is only one or the other. In fact, Scripture warns that blaming God for our troubles is a form of self-deception:

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:16–17). It doesn’t say some of what God does is good; it says everything He does is good.

God not only tells us how to pray when we’re in difficult situations—He even tells us what we should pray for. Yet so often, we ignore His simple, powerful instructions.

Join me this week as I share how the Scriptures teach us to pray when facing life’s struggles. Instead of clinging to religious traditions that rarely bring lasting results, you’ll discover a more excellent way—a way that leads to peace, power, and the perfect outcome God desires for you.