Seven Lessons on Prayer from Shopping Online

Colette Guthrie
Jul 12
4 min read

Updated: Sep 5

Have you ever bought anything online?

If you're like anything me, then your answer to that question is a resounding yes.

Shopping online is easy. It's very convenient. You can do it from wherever you are in the world as long as you have an Internet connection.

It's also quick. You can purchase your desired items as soon as you place them in your shopping cart. No need to wait in line at the cashier to check out.

You just wait for your items to be delivered, and if there are challenges, you take them up with Customer Service.

Here are seven lessons on prayer from a recent online shopping experience.

1. Prayer is Easy.

Bible Reference: Matthew 7:7 – "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Lesson: Just like placing an online order is as simple as a few clicks, prayer doesn’t require elaborate rituals—just a sincere heart. God makes it easy for us to reach out to Him anytime.

Recently, I ordered copies of Parts 1 and 2 of my new book series—The Feast of Wisdom. Because of the number of books that I needed, I had to split up my order into six parts. Making the order was easy. I was done in a few clicks.

2. Prayer is Convenient.

Bible Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – "Pray without ceasing."

Lesson: You don’t have to wait for a specific time or place to pray, just as you can contact customer service via chat, email, or phone. God is always available—no "business hours" restrictions.

There was a very detailed shopping menu on the website from which I had ordered the books. The last item on this menu was "Customer Service," with a suggestion to use the chat option to make contact with an agent.

3. Prayer is Quick.

Bible Reference: Psalm 34:17 – "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles."

Lesson: Some customer service issues are resolved instantly, while others take time. Similarly, some prayers are answered immediately, but even when they aren’t, God hears us right away.

I reached out to customer service to seek redress for a single book that was missing from my order. First, the AI chatbot screened me with a few questions about my complaint. Thereafter, I was promptly transferred to an agent who asked me some follow-up questions.

4. Don’t Take Prayer for Granted.

Bible Reference: James 4:2 – "You do not have because you do not ask."

Lesson: If you never follow up on a missing order, you might never get it. Likewise, if we neglect prayer, we miss out on God’s provision and guidance.

I normally check my items when I receive an order. This time around, I decided to do a count because I had ordered several books. It turned out that I had received one book less than I had ordered. Had I not done a count, I would not have realized that my order was short.

5. Ask for What You Need.

Bible Reference: Matthew 21:22 – "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Lesson: When an order is missing, you must clearly explain the issue to customer service. In prayer, God wants us to be specific and ask in faith, trusting He will provide what’s best.

After I explained my problem, the agent offered a solution. I was invited to return the items that I had received in exchange for a full refund. This was not what I wanted. I told him that I wanted a refund or a replacement book.

6. Be Humble.

Bible Reference: James 4:10 – "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Lesson: Demanding a refund rudely won’t help, but a polite request often does. Similarly, approaching God with humility—not entitlement—opens the door to His blessings.

The agent had indicated that based on the shipping method that I had used, there was no policy in place to give me what I wanted. He, however, offered to transfer me to a help desk where I could provide my phone number for a call-back. I humbly informed him that this was not ideal for me based on my current location.

7. Perseverance Pays.

Bible Reference: Luke 18:1 – "Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

Lesson: If customer service doesn’t resolve your issue at first, persistence pays off. In prayer, we must keep asking, seeking, and trusting—even when answers seem delayed.

I explained why asking me to return the other books in the order for a refund on one book was inconvenient for me. My case was then transferred to a supervisor. He empathized with me as a fellow shopper and agreed to give me a gift card for the cost of the book. I expressed my gratitude, and we parted ways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, online shopping and prayer share many similarities. Both require simplicity, convenience, and a willingness to ask for what we need. Just as we navigate customer service to resolve issues, we can approach God with our requests. Remember, prayer is a powerful tool that should never be taken for granted.