Prayer Warrior

Why? Why me? Why now? Where is God in this?” Have you ever asked those troublesome questions? Some say God brings trials for our benefit, so that we become strong and our faith matures. Others assert God just allows hardships in our lives, but He doesn’t cause them. Another group declares that all distress is contrary to God’s will, and we have pain because the enemy stands against us.

If God sent the trial, and it is His will, then we should accept the trial, grit out teeth and walk it out as best we can. We just hope we learn the lesson that God intends so He will bring a speedy end to our misery. If we believe that God didn’t cause the issue, but just allows it, then we grin and bear it and pray for His strength to carry us through.  If Satan is the source of the tribulation, and it is not God’s will that we suffer, then we are compelled to stand against the difficulty, resist the devil and pray through to the promised victory.

Common Experience

Whatever the cause of the trial or your theology regarding it, one thing is common to us all. We all face trouble in one form or another. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).” Paul exhorted the churches, saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Acts 14:22).” Sooner or later, we all face the trials of this life. It is part of our human experience on a planet plagued by sin.

Not Alone

Whether you believe that God sent the crisis, He just allowed the difficulty, or the trial is a spiritual attack of the Satan, you can take comfort in the fact that we as Christians never walk alone.

• “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you (Dt. 31:6).”
• “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Dt. 31:8).”
• “He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,’ so that we confidently say, ‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?’ (Heb. 13:5-6)”
• “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Cor. 1:4).”

Our compassionate Lord carries us through every trial. When we’ve come through to the other side, we have a powerful testimony we can use to encourage others going through similar circumstances. (Rev. 12:11)

It is God’s desire to hold you and bear your burden. “Surely our griefs He (Jesus) Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried (Is. 53:4),” because He was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Is. 53:3).”

The Prize

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).” Trials come to us all. Will you cling to God or walk alone? Those who persist to the end get the prize.

Pray the Psalm

Knowing that God is with us in our trials, we are compelled to seek Him. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me (Ps. 50:15).” King David walked through many difficulties during his life, and he never left God. I find great encouragement in his prayer (Ps. 20). When I faced trying times, I prayed Psalm 20 over and over again in my own words:

“Lord, please answer me in this day of trouble. May the power of Your name set me safely on high, above my circumstances.

"Lord, send me help from within the church, which is Your sanctuary. And, give me the emotional and physical support of my dear family. Remember all my gifts and offerings. Please, accept the sacrifices I’m making now.

“Lord, grant me the desire of my heart, and let me fulfill the purpose you ordained for me.

“Right now, in the midst of this evil, I sing for joy over the victory You will accomplish out of this mess of mine.

“I know You save Your chosen, and You always answer our prayers. You have great power and strength in Your right hand to save me. Some trust in their own power and money and strength. I commit now to make my boast in You alone. They bow down and fall, but we will rise and stand.

“Save me, O Lord. Answer me today as I cry to You alone.”

Man of Sorrow

You are not alone in your suffering, my friend. Jesus was familiar with our grief and sorrow, because he carried them all to the cross with Him. Our God walks with us through every trial. With each tear we shed, He weeps with us. When you are so broken that the words of prayer can’t even form on your lips, the unspoken cry of your heart reaches His tender ears. “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5).”

Pray for your friends facing crisis. Listen well as they talk with you and pray they feel the comfort of our Saviors gentle arms. ♥