THERE are times and seasons where life is
terrible, lamentable, unbelievably painful; tragic beyond previous experience. Times
and seasons where we’re learning the sheer cavernous depths of seeming death in
life. Times and seasons where a life ending precedes a life beginning. Times, prior
to, ‘when life can begin again’.
There is a sanctity in the pain if
we take the Lord there with us. Fondly we’ll reminisce over such times; but
that is destined locale for a time months or years away. Let it come without
pining for it. But let us be empathic in the pining.
A personal prayer for the person
whose prayer needs to be heard and answered:
Lord,
Allow me to
be comforted by your prophets, your apostles, your Job, and your David. Show me
in the pain of those biblical exemplars that I am, indeed, in esteemed company.
Help me to
know your Presence by feeling you present there with me, as I bear these trials
of helplessness, hopelessness, travail, and despair.
Revive me
the day after my despairing.
Breathe
your Holy Spirit through me, afresh, from within my inner being. Make hope rise
inside me. Protect me from further attacks of the enemy.
And make me
to hope upon your deliverance — that soon, someday very soon, I would overcome
this grief. Help me a little more with each passing day to accept the realities
that face me. Help me to face these realities with your grace empowering my
patient, enduring response. Help me to be still in this crisis.
Amen.
There are many circumstances of
life that can floor us. The gentle and therapeutic Presence of our
Majesty-on-High is inside us as believers. That sweet therapy of his Presence
is constantly available. We must be God-conscious, which is a consciousness
of belief that he, Father-Son-Spirit, is with us, indelibly and with
Spiritual reality, helping.
The comfort of him who comforts us
is comfort enough for the moment. And for each moment, hence, faith is in resting
in the comfort of the Comforter.
Comfort means “with strength,” or
to strengthen, support or console. The Holy Spirit, as Comforter, breathes life
to strengthen us through consolation — meeting us wherever we’re at. We cannot
lose even in this loss.
Comfort is safety and a no-lose
situation. We get what we need when we need comfort, knowing that getting comfort
from God is what we need.
God knows the needs of our moment,
and our moments are helped when we accept
he will meet our needs.
A personal prayer for the person
whose prayer needs to be heard and answered:
Oh Lord,
comfort me.
Bring about
your sweetest understanding ear, your warmest delight in me, and your cosiest
hug. Meet me. Warm me from the inside out. Make these things I pray for, real
in me, this moment.
In Jesus’
compassionate name, I pray, Amen.
One day soon hope will return, and,
without effort, joy and peace will prevail. And love will again be foundational
upon our hearts, where fear, again, finds no place.
One day, soon. Tomorrow, even
perhaps today.
© 2015 Steve Wickham.
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