PRAYING IN THE STORM
It is
amazing to me how the Lord sometimes pieces things together in our lives. A missionary friend of mine recently sent me
an excerpt from a book on prayer, talking about the beautiful “laments” in the Bible. It also ended up being the theme for our
adult lesson on Job, this past Sunday. The class material had a step-by-step
explanation of what a Biblical lament included, and a couple of us were asked
to write one of our own.
I am
currently 37 weeks along with our precious “Rainbow Baby”, and anxiously
waiting every day for her arrival. It is
a happy time in my life. But there are
well over 7000 bereaved mamas in the Facebook groups I’ve been a part of, this
past year . . . There are recently-widowed ladies in my church . . . There are
friends with dissolving marriages and very serious health issues on my prayer
list . . . Every day, all around us, are struggling, hurting, grieving people.
Do we know
how to pray to God when we encounter trials in our personal lives? We understand that, as Christians, we ought
not doubt our loving Heavenly Father.
But is there a RIGHT WAY to talk to Him in our hours of deepest anguish,
and to tell Him how we truly feel?
In a “lament”,
we don’t doubt our Creator, but, rather we show that we TRUST Him – We trust
Him by pouring out our heart; trust Him with our innermost thoughts and
feelings; trust that He still hears us when we cannot see His face; trust that He
knows what is best in every situation.
If you are
walking through a dark valley in your own life, don’t be afraid to pray like Job,
like David, like Jeremiah, and like so many others in the Bible . . . Don’t be
afraid to pray the very words of Scripture . . .
Perhaps this
example will be a blessing to you:
I come before You, Dear
Heavenly Father.
I don’t understand why
this is happening to me. My heart is so
hurt, right now - so devastated. I feel
broken and shattered in a million pieces.
My circumstances weigh down on my heart like an anvil. A giant cloud has settled over my spirit and
I cannot shake it. The words of others wound me, again and again. When, Lord, will I find relief?
Deep down in my heart,
Dear Lord, I know that You are in control.
You are good and You are God, even when I cannot see Your loving
face. Your Word tells me to “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour
out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us . . .” (Ps. 62:8) I need Your refuge, Dear Jesus! I lay this burden of my heart down at Your
feet, Oh God. I know that I can run to
You when I have no where else to turn. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the
righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Prov. 18:10) I know that You are
the Only One Who can truly help me through this trial.
Please strengthen me,
Dear God. Please help me not to falter or
fail in my walk with You. Please help me
to bring You glory in everything I am going through right now.
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the
congregation will I praise thee.” (Ps. 22:22) You alone can see me through
to the other side, Dear Lord. Please
help me on that day to praise You and to rejoice in You, and to not be afraid
to share your goodness in my life with others around me.
Thank You, Oh Lord, for
hearing me when I pray! Thank You for
comforting my heart, and for Your Holy Spirit reminding me that You are still
with me and You are still doing a special work in my life. You see the whole
picture from start to finish, Dear Lord, even when I cannot. I love you, Lord Jesus!
AMEN
In Psalm 23, David declares, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me . . .”
I encourage you to pray earnestly, My
Friend. No matter what you are going
through today, you can share the deepest burdens of your heart with God. He created you and He loves you with an
everlasting love. You can truly cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for
you.” (I Peter 5:7)
