When we picture prayer in the Bible, we often think of long prayers of anguish and crying out to God in the midst of tragedy. These were the prayers of Hannah, Elijah, and King David. While this depiction is a very real type of prayer we read about in scripture, it’s also important to view prayer as something to be enjoyed, relished and looked forward to. Whether everything in life is going well, or even if we are in the midst of tragedy, talking with our Father in heaven should always be the bright spot and highlight of our day.

Even as Paul wrote to the churches from prison, he made sure to let them know that he remembered them, he was praying for them, and his prayers emanated from a heart full of joy. If you think about it, this seems completely backward, situationally, to how we would expect these roles to take shape. We would think the opposite; it would be the church who would remember Paul in prison, and they would be the ones praying for him because of his horrible circumstances of being held captive, not free to travel, preach and plant new churches. We would picture Paul in a state of hopeless desperation and misery, being momentarily uplifted by kind words of hope coming from a church he helped to plant, not the other way around.

How is it that Paul could hold onto joy amidst these prayers? And how can we adopt that approach to prayer in our own lives? The answer lies in Paul’s close relationship with God and his keen awareness of where he was and why God placed him there. Paul understood that being in prison was not a mistake or a pause from his purpose, but this period in his life was a part of his purpose. It was an opportunity to slow down, reflect, write, and minister to a young and growing church in a new and different way. When Paul’s perspective changed, it allowed his prayers to change as well for the better. He was in need of God’s grace yet he recognized the grace and provision God had already given him. The same can be true for us as well. It’s only through prayer, and developing a lifestyle of prayer, that we grow into a place of Christian maturity where we begin to understand and see God’s bigger picture. Our thoughts align with his, our motivations are his motivations, and setbacks and challenges are seen for what they truly are: opportunities to remember God’s providence, precedence, and promise over our lives. Paul could hold onto joy because he never stopped holding onto Jesus. Paul could hold onto hope because he could see how everything was working together not only for his good but for the good of those who were being reached. Paul’s prayers changed when his perspective changed. The same can be true for you. You can approach God with joy, hope, gratitude, and confidence as your perspective of your situation changes.

Think about this in your own life. What circumstances are not exactly how you hoped they would be? How can your perspective be changed so that you hold onto joy no matter what? How can your perspective reflect your desperate need of God? What does it look like to make your prayers with joy? What is your current approach or attitude when it comes to prayer? How can that be changed for the better?