Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:8-10 (ESV)
Dear heavenly Father, this passage has proven to be “home room” for me in many difficult seasons of life. Through it I’ve found freedom to wrestle with you, that I might ultimately find rest in you, again and again. You don’t always explain things or answer our prayers the way we want you to, but you do give us more of yourself and provide enough of your grace.
Today, I’m moved to pray the truths of this Scripture for friends in the middle of stories, calamites, and hardships that make it difficult to trust you, or even risk hoping again. The journey from wrestling with you to resting in you is often quite difficult. No one but you, Lord, can move us from despising our weakness to boasting in our weakness.
Father, grant special grace to friends suffering with yet-to-be-clearly diagnosed chronic conditions. When all the blood work, MRIs, scans, and tests reveal nothing, and yet the condition persists, losing health quite often leads to losing heart. God be gracious.
Father, grant special grace to friends whose pain isn’t physical, but is emotional. When our children blow it or our spouses fail us; our friends desert us, or our employers betray us; leaders deceive us or addicts relapse on us… it can be absolutely overwhelming. God be near.
Father of mercies and God of all comfort, for my friends who have pled for relief, in some cases for years, I join their prayer. Thank you for not despising our cry, “How long, O Lord?” Don’t let the anger, despair, or hopelessness win. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ strong and compassionate name.
