March 6, 2020 – Click here to listen
A friend of mine, Michael, is suffering from some serious health issues – cancer. He just finished some extensive treatment for it and for all appearances it seemed the cancer was in remission, but instead it seems to be back with a vengeance. If that wasn’t enough to endure one, of his investments has gone awry and he cannot address the situation with this company due to his medical condition.
He is as nice a person as you could want to meet and loves the Lord with all of his heart. It is impossible for us to understand how God would allow Satan to ravage this man’s health and finance and/or the many others facing similar situations. We do not have the intellect or the understanding of God’s plans. We must just accept the bad with the good and go on faith. Whatever the reason bad times are an integral part of our lives and it rains on the righteous just like it does on the unrighteous.
Job and his buddies tried to figure out the why of his misery and they assumed that he had sinned and so on, but God angrily declared that they were in no position to question God’s motives. Throughout the Bible we find examples of people who suffer and often it seems strange to us that God does not just step in and end all suffering, but we must refrain from focusing on why it happened and instead focus on what can be done about the situation.
I have reached the point of accepting the fact that I will never understand the why’s of suffering and that the only avenue left for me is prayer and fasting. I know that all suffering will end and will end forever. Compared to the trials and tribulations and brevity of this life we must look beyond it to the peace, joy, love, and happiness that awaits us on the other side that will last throughout eternity.
Jesus as always is our example, Hebrews 12:2 – Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. No one has suffered as much as Him and no one will ever do so and yet He was focused on what happened beyond the suffering. He considered it joy! God did not spare His own Son from suffering and we are His children and though we may suffer for a while, in due time we will join Him soon enough.
That passage is a logical boost and intellectually the concept is understandable; however, as it is with hitting your thumb with a hammer, when you hit it – It hurts! Intellectually you know it will not hurt forever, but when you hit it – It hurts! Jesus prayed and prayed and prayed until He actually sweated blood. It is what got Him through the day, and it is what will get us through our days of trouble.
Jesus told His disciples that they should stay alert and pray, instead they fell asleep. I have found in life and in the Bible that the prayers of righteous people are a powerful tool that we can use in fighting Satan. Please join me in saying a prayer for my friend Michael, No matter where you might be please take a moment right now to enjoin God to remove his pain and heal this man of God and comfort him as he faces these battles of a lifetime with Satan and his demonic force. And while you are at it, pray for those who you personally know that are fighting their battles. Don’t go to sleep at the critical hour for them.
James 5:16
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!