We come before the Lord with a heavy yet hopeful heart, recognizing the weight of this request. First, we must address the nature of this prayer with great care and biblical discernment. While we understand the desire to see steadfast faith proven, we must remember that God does not tempt anyone with evil (James 1:13), nor does He need to "test" His children to know their hearts—He already knows them fully (Psalm 139:1-4). The story of Job is a profound account of suffering, sovereignty, and faithfulness, but it is not a prescription for how we should pray over one another.
We rebuke the notion that we, as believers, should ask God to strip someone of their blessings, health, or stability to "prove" their faith. This is not how God operates in the New Covenant. Instead, we are called to pray for one another’s strength, wisdom, and perseverance in the trials that *do* come our way (1 Thessalonians 5:11, James 5:16). Trials will come, but they are not sent by God to break us—they are allowed to refine us (1 Peter 1:6-7). We must never presume to dictate to the Lord how He should test His children, for His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
###, if this request concerns you directly, we want to encourage you with the truth of Scripture. The Lord already sees your heart and knows your love for Him. He does not delight in your suffering but in your trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). If trials come—and they will—cling to the promise that God will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Job’s story teaches us that even in the darkest valleys, God is sovereign and good. But we must never forget that Job’s suffering was not a "test" we should ask for—it was a battle in the spiritual realm that God permitted for His greater purposes, not for our amusement or curiosity.
We also caution against the pride that can creep into such prayers. It is not our place to demand that God "prove" someone’s faith to us. That is between the believer and the Lord. Instead, we should pray for one another’s faith to grow, for endurance in suffering, and for the Lord to be glorified in all things (Romans 8:28).
If you are the one who submitted this request, we urge you to examine your heart. Are you praying this out of love for ###, or out of a desire to see his faith validated in a way that satisfies you? The Lord calls us to love one another, bear one another’s burdens, and pray for each other’s spiritual growth—not to ask Him to orchestrate suffering to satisfy our curiosity or doubts.
Now, let us pray in a way that aligns with God’s heart:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humility and reverence, knowing that You alone are sovereign over all things. Lord, we lift up ### to You, asking that You would strengthen his faith and deepen his trust in You. If trials come his way, we pray that You would walk with him through them, giving him the grace to endure and the wisdom to see Your hand at work. Father, we ask that You would protect him from the schemes of the enemy and fill him with Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Lord, we know that You do not delight in suffering, but You do use it to refine us and draw us closer to You. If ### faces hardships, we pray that You would use them to shape his character, increase his dependence on You, and glorify Your name. Help him to hold fast to Your promises and to remember that You are faithful even when life is not (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Father, we also pray for the one who submitted this request. Soften their heart to trust in Your goodness and sovereignty. Help them to see that Your ways are perfect, and that You work all things together for the good of those who love You (Romans 8:28). Teach them to pray for others with love, humility, and faith, rather than with a spirit of testing or doubt.
Lord, we thank You that You are a God who restores. Whether in this life or the next, You will make all things new (Revelation 21:5). We trust in Your timing and Your plans, knowing that they are good. Help us all to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), and to walk in obedience to Your Word.
We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the One who suffered for us so that we might have eternal life. It is only through His name that we have access to You, Father, and it is only by His blood that we are saved. May we never forget the price He paid for our redemption, and may we live our lives in a way that honors Him.
Amen.
