Posts Tagged ‘pain’

Because You Prayed

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

I hope to have a heart-to-heart with God when I reach heaven because I have a few questions that need answers. Here’s one: What difference does prayer make if You rule over everything and have established purposes for our lives from before creation?

I wrestle with this question occasionally. How can my measly petitions change the outcome of a particular situation if God already knows its ending? Why does God tell me to pray without ceasing, to pour out my heart to Him, to bring all my requests to Him when He holds the script? This is a mystery to me. And yet, I know that prayer changes things.

King Hezekiah knew it, too. That’s why he continually sought God’s help. When an enemy king sent him a threatening letter, he didn’t waste time wringing his hands in worry. Rather, he spread the letter before the Lord and prayed. And God answered. Immediately afterwards, Isaiah sent a message to Hezekiah saying, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, “Because you prayed about King Sennacherib of Assyria, the LORD has spoken this word against him…” (Isaiah 37:21). Then came a promise of the enemy’s defeat.

What might have happened if Hezekiah had tried to fight the enemy without God’s help? Or what might have transpired if he’d thrown up his hands in despair and waved the white flag of surrender? Or what if he’d succumbed to fear and gone into hiding? Only God knows. But this one thing we know – Hezekiah prayed, and his prayer played a role in history.

Because you prayed…three words that can change everything.

How do those three words apply to us today? Here’s an example….

Cancer claimed the life of a friend last Friday. She was only 47. She leaves behind a grieving husband and two young children. People prayed, and prayed, and prayed for her healing but their prayers appeared unanswered. At least through our limited perspective.

And yet, when I read her blog written as she processed thoughts of dying and preparing for eternity, I see God’s presence with her. I see how He carried her through months of treatment and failing health. I see how He helped her learn to trust Him implicitly and come to a place of rest. When she died on Friday morning, she left this world wearing a smile. How might the past three years have been different for her if people hadn’t prayed on her behalf? She might have died an angry, bitter woman.

Because you prayed…three words that can change everything. No matter what you’re facing today, know that prayer works. Give God the honor He’s due as Hezekiah did, and then bare your heart to Him. Share your concerns with Him. Tell Him what’s causing you pain or driving you mad. And trust Him to move on your behalf.  

How have you seen the truth behind these three words played out in your life?

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Be Still

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

My youngest daughter has befriended a woman in a nursing home, visiting her on a weekly basis for the past few months. Last week I had the privilege of meeting her.

Unlike the other residents, this woman – a single mom of a 19-year-old son – is in her early 40s. Her body is gnarled and crippled not with age, but with rheumatoid arthritis. A large screen TV hangs on the wall opposite her bed, providing a diversion for the hours she spends bedridden. Excruciating pain makes it nearly impossible for her to move, so nurses get her up only once a week. Family rarely visit. And yet she smiles.

How is this possible, in light of the circumstances surrounding her? “I had to make a choice about how I’d respond to life,” says L. “I could be bitter and angry. Or I can accept my lot and be pleasant.” She makes it sound so simple.

This woman’s attitude amazes me. It also challenges me to consider my response in painful situations much less than the one she faces on a daily basis and for which there is no earthly escape.

As I’ve pondered the topic of pain and its purpose in our lives, I’ve thought about how easy it is to be impatient and discontent when life takes a detour filled with disappointment. But then Psalm 46:10-11 comes to mind: “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”

These Scriptures remind me that God is in control even when life appears out-of-control. Our job is to be still and trust Him. He is Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly armies and He not only rushes to our rescue when we cry to Him for help, but He resides with those of us who are His children. He never abandons us. He is our fortress, our refuge in troubled times, and our security no matter what.

As far as I know, L. is not a believer. If she can respond to pain in a positive way, then I can do no less especially with Psalm 46:10,11 in my arsenal. My prayer for you and me is that we’ll apply these truths to our lives. That we’ll learn what it means to truly be still and let God be God even when we don’t understand the purpose for our pain. That we’ll honor God in our attitudes. And that, as we do these things, others will recognize that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is our help and constant companion.

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Perspective on Pain

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Before launching into today’s devotional, I have a very special announcement! Stonecroft Ministries Canada asked me to write a study guide to accompany Moving From Fear to Freedom and to produce a 7-part teaching DVD. The study guide is in the publishing process now, and the DVD will be recorded live this fall. Would you like to be a part of the audience?

Date: Every Thursday from September 30-November 11

Time: 7-8 P.M.

Place: House of James bookstore, Abbotsford, BC

Cost: Only $20. This includes the 7 sessions plus workbook.

Program: I’ll teach about a specific aspect of fear for 15-20 minutes each session. Then participants will break into small groups for discussion, using the study guide. We’ll share from our personal lives and examine God’s Word to learn how to overcome the fears that often hinder us from embracing life as fully as God intends. This is an evangelistic outreach, so bring your friends and introduce them to Jesus Christ.

Registration: Follow these directions.

Space is limited to 40. I hope to see you there!

Now, for today’s devotional thought….

One of my Power for Living interviews was with a gal named Jan Turner. Amazing woman.  Years ago she contracted pneumococcal pneumonia. Her body struggled to survive by shutting down blood flow to her extremities. Gangrene set in, and she had to undergo a quadruple amputation.

A single mom with two adopted sons, Jan determined not to let discouragement override her. She applied herself to the rigors of physical therapy and learned how to walk with prosthetics. Using metal hooks that replaced her hands, she learned how to do all the usual things able-bodied people take for granted – things like combing her hair, brushing her teeth, driving and cooking. She returned to school and obtained a second degree in Communications, and she became an ordained pastor.

I listened in awe as Jan told me her story, and then I asked her how she maintained such a positive outlook in the midst of pain. She quoted 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “…Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

“It’s all in one’s perspective,” said Jan. She explained that when troubles come, we’re all faced with a choice regarding where we fix our gaze. Will it be on the pain or on God’s promises?

Focusing on God’s promises might sound trite to someone dealing with extreme difficulties, but in reality, what else can we do when there’s no easy answer and hope seems distant at best? Fixing her gaze on the Truth of God’s Word worked for Jan – her life proves it. It’ll work for the rest of us, too.

What particular promise from God’s Word has sustained you and given you a proper perspective in the midst of pain?

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A Prayer for People in Pain

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Yesterday was unusual in that bad news arrived three times.

One of my friends, a woman I’ve known for 25 years and who ministered with us in Poland this summer, was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with leukemia on Monday evening. Then there’s my daughter’s friend whose 2-year-old was diagnosed with the same disease on the same day. And then there’s a beautiful young pastor’s wife who just discovered she has a brain tumor.

My mind can scarcely comprehend the shock and changes that these folks and their families are facing right now. As I wend my way through my to-do list, I pray for them often and ask God to be their strength. I ask Him to comfort them, to remind them of His presence, and to touch their bodies with His healing hand. And I admit, I wonder why He has allowed these things to happen to His children.

I don’t know the answer to that question, but I know that the news about my friends didn’t surprise God. He’s in control, and He’s promised to be with them. No matter what happens, they can be victorious because of His faithfulness and unfailing love in their lives. My heart’s desire for them is based in Psalm 40:1-3…

“Dear Father,

I pray that my friends will wait patiently for You to help them. Turn to them and hear their cries. Lift them from the pit of despair. Set their feet on solid ground and steady them as they walk along. Give them a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to You. Amaze others with what You do on their behalf, and use their situations as a catalyst for others to put their trust in You. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.”  

Do you have friends or family going through a hard time? If so, please feel free to adapt this prayer for them or to pass it along to someone who can use it.

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This I Know

Monday, May 25th, 2009

Two weeks ago, I somehow managed to lock my SI joint (sacro iliac) and wound up in excruciating pain in my lower back. My doctor ordered pain-killers and exercises, but neither helped. The pain from routine movements such as walking, getting in and out of my car, and standing from a sitting position nearly left me breathless. One morning, out of desperation, I looked in the Yellow Pages and found a chiropractor whose schedule allowed me to receive treatment within a couple of hours.

Since then, I’ve visited that chiropractor’s office seven times. Last Friday’s treatment was so intense that I nearly cried. “Now go home, put ice on your back, and walk, walk, walk,” said the doctor. His orders worked. This morning I was able to sit in my favorite recliner while I read my Bible and journaled, and then I stood up with only minimum pain. I even took a 25-minute walk – something that was impossible to do a few days ago.

Some people raise their eyebrows and look skeptical when the word chiropractor is mentioned. Perhaps they’ve never had an appointment with one, or they’ve heard scary stories of being folded like a pretzel and then having their bones snapped. Their response is, “Go to a chiropractor? I don’t think so!”

No matter what others think or say, I believe this doctor has played a role in my healing. Frankly, I don’t understand his methods, but this I know – pain had nearly immobilized me, but now I’m walking again. Next time I hear someone speak of back or neck pain, I’ll recommend his name.

The other day I read the story about the man born blind (John 9). Jesus had healed him completely – an act that raised the eyebrows of the man’s parents, neighbors, and local religious leaders. They questioned, they doubted, they scoffed. But the fact remained – the man born blind could now see.

I love the man’s simple response to the doubters: “I know this – I was blind, and now I see” (v. 25). It’s likely he didn’t understand Jesus’ methods for restoring his sight, but he did know that, for the first time in his life, he could see puffy white clouds set against a brilliant blue sky. I’ll bet he recommended Jesus’ name to every blind beggar he saw from that day forward.

Has Christ changed your life? Has He impacted you in a personal and powerful way? It’s possible that others, including those closest to you, have expressed doubt and skepticism. If so, don’t get caught up in arguments, and don’t be discouraged by their attitudes or comments. You know the reality of Christ’s life-changing power because of what He’s done for you. Stand firm in that knowledge, and be prepared to recommend His name to others in need.

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