James 5:13, New International Version

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”

James closes his letter with a call to prayer in every circumstance. He writes, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (v. 13). Whether in hardship or in joy, the believer’s first response should always be to turn to God. Prayer is not reserved only for moments of crisis—it is meant to be woven into every season of life. When we bring our joys and struggles before the Lord, we are reminded of His presence and His care.

James also highlights the role of community in prayer. He tells the sick to call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord (v. 14). This isn’t a formula or ritual that guarantees healing, but it reflects the power of faith-filled, united prayer. Healing may come physically, spiritually, or emotionally, but in every case, it points back to God’s grace. The church is meant to be a family that carries one another’s burdens, lifting each other up before the throne of grace.

Confession also plays a vital role in this passage. James says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (v. 16). Sin thrives in secrecy, but when brought into the light, healing begins. This doesn’t mean broadcasting our sins to everyone, but it does mean being willing to walk in honesty and accountability with trusted brothers and sisters. When confession and prayer come together, God’s restoring work begins to take shape in powerful ways.

James emphasizes the effectiveness of prayer by pointing to Elijah, a man with a nature just like ours. Yet his prayers were powerful because they were rooted in faith and aligned with God’s will. That example should encourage us—our prayers are not powerless. They matter because the God we pray to is mighty and faithful. When we pray earnestly and persistently, we can expect God to move, even if His answers don’t always look the way we imagine.

Finally, James closes with a reminder of the mission we share as believers: to bring back those who wander from the truth. “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (v. 20). Prayer, confession, restoration—these are not just private matters. They ripple outward into the life of the church, calling us to be people who not only walk in the truth but lovingly pursue others who have drifted.

James 5:13–20 ties together the themes of the whole letter: faith that is active, authentic, and expressed in love. Prayer is central to that kind of faith. It draws us to God, connects us to one another, and fuels the work of restoration in the body of Christ. May we be people who pray in every season, who walk in honesty, and who pursue those who have strayed—trusting that the God who hears is also the God who saves.

(All scripture quotations in this article are from the New International Version)