In the wise collection of Ecclesiastes sayings, the teacher cautions us that everything ends in vanity and hopelessness. "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing in which it is said, 'See, this is new'? It has already been, in the ages before us." (vv9-10). These verses, however, need to be taken in view at the end in which the teacher punctuated the tagline - "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep His commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone." (Eccl 12:13). All our efforts are an exodus to return to God.

Our efforts to change and effect conversion cannot be without prayer. When the disciples questioned why they couldn't cast out the demon from the poor boy, Jesus' answer to them is clear - that they had not prayed enough. The dialogue between the father of the boy and the disciples can be seen as a guide by Jesus, leading us from faithlessness to belief and to action in prayer. Prayer is a deep connection with God whose benevolent presence is revealed in Jesus. It will take us a while to be deeply attuned to the heart of Jesus. No vanity is depicted in Jesus, only a firm humility with assertion to pray and release people from faithless effort.