Romans 8:26-30 ESV

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Lord, help! I have been sick for two weeks now. I have been coughing pretty much continually, not light coughs, but hard ones. I hurt all over. I feel very beat up. Eating has been a challenge for me for I have so much gas buildup inside of me. But then today I believe the Lord reminded me of something. He reminded me that I have had these symptoms before, a long time ago now. The pain I have had in my gut the past two weeks feels like an ulcer I had a long while ago. And so I looked it up.

Yes, the description of an ulcer is an exact match for what I have been suffering with the past two weeks in my body. So, I immediately looked to see what foods I can eat and which ones I am to avoid, and I am already experiencing some improvement. So, I thank the Lord for that, for I have been in such severe pain the past two weeks. And I have been crying it out to the Lord daily for him to heal me. And he keeps encouraging me to trust him and to rest in him, for my faith is surely being tested here.

I would definitely put myself in the “weak” category right now. And I am so thankful that the Lord does help us in our weaknesses. There is absolutely no way I could have continued writing each day if the Lord did not give me the strength, for my strength is gone. I have no physical strength to do what I am doing right now. My body just wants to retreat. My body just wants to sleep this off until it all goes away. So I am totally dependent on the Lord right now just for the strength to sit up.

I have been praying for healing, but the healing has been delayed. So, then I have been praying, “Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way. Thou are the Potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.” For we don’t always know why God does things the way he does, and so I have to yield to his purposes in this all and trust him that he is going to carry me through each day and that he is going to accomplish his purposes for why he is allowing me to go through this right now.

But we don’t always know what to pray in such circumstances. So I am thankful that the Holy Spirit is interceding for me with groanings too deep for words. I am glad the Holy Spirit is interceding for me according to the will of God, but not just for me, but for all of us who love the Lord Jesus. And I know that the Lord is working all this out for my good, even though the process is quite painful. And I am glad he works all things out for the good of all of us who love and obey him.

In all that God does it is good. It doesn’t always feel good. I don’t feel good right now. But he never promised us that life would be easy and pain free. He promised us the opposite of that. And what God is doing in our lives through our times of suffering and pain is that he is transforming us to the likeness of Jesus Christ. He is maturing us in our walks of faith. He is teaching us steadfastness and perseverance and obedience to him despite our circumstances. And so whatever we are going through we must surrender our all to the Lord and let him do what needs to be done in our hearts and lives to make us more like Jesus.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12]

The Prayer

Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager,
Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe.

I pray we’ll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When the stars go out each night
Remind us where you are.

Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe.

Caution: This link may contain ads
P.S. This is not an endorsement of the singers other than as musicians