Praying In The Storm - Dinner #96

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)

Awaiting A Rainbow

AWAITING A RAINBOW

By Kristen Kelley

The myriad of emotions I feel in my heart as my due date approaches is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever known.  Do I dare to write that?  To share that with the world?  The last time I visited the L&D floor of our local hospital was 2+1/2 years ago.  The last time I visited the L&D floor of our local hospital, I left with empty arms. 

God has brought about great beauty from the ashes, since that sorrowful day.  Knowing my booklet A Letter In Your Loss has now been put into the hands of hundreds of other grieving mamas – that has been something beyond anything I could have ever asked or thought (Eph. 3:20).  But here I am – bereavement author Kristen Kelley – staring labor in the face once again, and praying that this time, there will be life on the other side. Praying that there will be happy tears and smiles, infant cries, and the warmth of sweet baby cuddles. 

Jeremiah 31:13 “. . . for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.”

It can be weighty on one’s heart, seeking to hold out the hope of God to groups where mamas are literally losing their babies every day. I’ve been trying to keep myself busy with various “nesting activities” and not dwell on panic-triggering fears.  Anxiety seeks to infiltrate my heart, just the same.

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” Psalm 57:7

God has not given me the spirit of fear (II Tim. 1:7).  I cling to that.  But I am human.  And the broken heart that God has healed so incredibly, feels extremely vulnerable just now.  Not everyone must work through the difficulty of reliving a trauma, but we all deal with difficulties.  The hymn phrase “all your anxiety, all your care, Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there . . .” keeps running through my mind.

Delivering a live baby often brings with it a sense of maternal strength and power.  I lost so much of that confidence during the miscarriage delivery with our son. My body failed me over and over again on that day. What if it fails me now?

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Isaiah 41:10 has long been my “life verse”, and I love how it still anchors my heart – even in this.

What do you cling to in your “this”? You may not be facing your biggest fears as you await the delivery of a “rainbow”.  You may be facing a mind struggle of an entirely different kind.  Do you know where to turn when Satan is seeking to rob you of your peace?

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”

Look to Our Precious Savior, Dear Sister!  No matter your trial; your dilemma; your fear.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)