It’s always a mental and spiritual challenge when facing misfortunes and adversities of any kind. When life takes an unexpected turn towards discomfort and pain, or a particular hardship reaches out and touches a loved one or close friend, it is unnerving to sit along side a hospital bed holding a non-responsive hand that is weak from the hard journey they’ve endured.
A one word question “Why?” cries out for answers that will satisfy the aching heart of the one asking the question. When a searching mind tries to understand why calamity has invaded their world of serenity, more times than not, fear of the unknown is present.
To hear words like, “Fear is the absence of faith,” is a statement that presents a negative connotation rather than being supportive to the one striving to understand what is happening around them; the one who is trying to put the scattered pieces of the puzzle into their rightful place so that clarity of the picture can be seen.
This unnecessary statement upsets the balance of the natural process of trying to comprehend the situation at hand, while attempting to grasp the “What ifs” that are bombarding their mind. I have heard this statement spoken, whereas, it should never have been made at all!
It is most difficult for others that are not as close to the mountain of heartache to understand the gravity of emotions and underlying sensations that accompany adversity. Unless they have walked a similar road, true empathy cannot prevail. Having traveled parallel roads certainly lends help when searching for words to console and uplift a distraught individual that is in the midst of shadows and dark clouds.
I believe that we can more readily show love and compassion to someone else when we have tasted the bitter dregs of disappointment and pain that have touched our own world. We know the words of encouragement and comfort that are needed.
We should make ourselves available and not fear to come along side of those that are in need of a shoulder to cry on, or a firm support to lean against. The one we help today may be the very person that provides strength and support when we need it most. Are we not all striving to make it through life the best way we know how? For this we need one another. It’s comforting to hear words like, “I’m here for you!”
Caution is the word that speaks to my heart about closing up my bowels of compassion. (1 John 3:17-18), “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” vs.18 “My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
Those on the outside looking in on another person’s world-of-hurt must hold onto faith for that individual whose faith may be wavering. Fear of the unknown; fear that is trying to consume and take away their faith is always present in times of trouble. We who are strong in faith must hold up the arms of those that may be struggling in those areas of the unknown.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,” vs.4 “who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
When we pray an intense, intercessory prayer on behalf of others, we may not realize or see immediate results to these prayers, but this does not mean the battle is lost. We know Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for you and me, because He is touched by our needs.
In the spiritual realm are battles that are being fought continually. The forces of good and evil are contending for our very soul. Just because we cannot see the battlefield and the warriors coming together does not negate the reality of what is taking place.
(Hebrews 5:16), “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” God is concerned about every area of our life and wants to minister to all of our needs according to His riches in glory.
(Matthew 18:19), “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” vs.20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
This is the promise from God to us. It is His good pleasure to heal our bodies when healing is needed. It pleases Him to stretch forth His merciful hand to calm the troubled sea around us.
It is God’s will to set mankind free that are held captive by sin. He delivers them through the righteousness of His Son Jesus. (John 8:36), “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
As children of God we have the ability and power within us to not only change the very destiny of time itself, but to influence all of Heaven when we join our voices together in prayer on behalf of others. The Holy Spirit and those praying are the majority. There is no greater power than God’s power. He has the final say.
The most precious thought is this; even though He is all-powerful and the Most High God, when we cry, “Abba Father,” meaning “Daddy,” He listens to our cry and moves to meet our need, just as we hear and act upon our children’s cry for help.
When God speaks, the insurmountable mountains in our life crumble before us, because of His love. Answers to questions come into view. God has provided the means of prayer, through Jesus Christ, for humanity to connect with the supernatural, thus, being able to move the hand of God; even to change the mind of God.
With this knowledge, we continue in faith and join together with those of like faith to lend spiritual arms of support that under gird and help strengthen the wavering faith of those in the midst of trials. These who are standing together making up the hedge of faith have a duty to one another, of not giving up. They must endure and believe God for the miracle that is needed so desperately.
As a part of the body of Christ we are obligated to the other parts of Christ’s body that need assistance so that the need will be ministered to. When the body comes together in faith and unity it is the uniting of this faith in God that moves the mountains of unbelief; causing them to crumble. When we obey (Romans 12:1) there is no limit to what God can do through us.
(Romans 12:1), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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