pain

today’s prayer

Posted on by Grace Day

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

Lord, the world is full of crushed and broken people, people left full of empty spaces after tragedy comes like the thief in the night, robbing them of their loved ones, robbing them of their peace and of their joy – leaving them with gaping holes in their hearts and in their lives – spaces that need to be filled – spaces that only You are able to fill.

There are many in Texas right now in desperate need of You, Heavenly Father. Their hearts have been broken wide open and their spirits crushed by the loss of their loved ones who were swept away by the flood waters which most certainly came as the thief in the night, leaving behind destruction, devastation – raw pain, open wounds – everything laid bare – all the cracks and holes in our hearts and our souls exposed for all to see.

Who will enter in to such overwhelming grief and sorrow? You, Heavenly Father, have said that You will enter in and that You will stay with us through whatever we encounter. We have Your promise –

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Lord, I pray that Your Presence enter in and fill all the empty spaces, all the open wounds, fill every crack and crevice currently filled with pain, with Your comfort and hope and love – You alone must fill these spaces if the people are to continue on after so great a loss. Please be the Lifter of every head, the Healer of every broken heart and the Mender of every crushed spirit. Lord Jesus, may those suffering loss know that You truly experience and carry their pain right now in these unbearable moments and days. We know You do because Isaiah said this about You –

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. . . . Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5)

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19)

Lord Jesus, You Yourself are described as a man of sorrows. You know what it is to grieve and You too, have been crushed in spirit. We know You cried when Lazarus died, even though You knew You were going to bring him back to life in just a few moments. Yet still, You cried. You understand our grief. And You grieve right along with us.

Let Your Presence fill, sustain and protect all those left wounded and defenseless in the wake of the floods. Let them remember the promise of Your words –

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. . . . For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:10 & 13)

Lord, those who are grieving need Your help now as never before. May they experience today this reality, described in Your Living Word –

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Heavenly Father, enter in to all these shattered lives, fill all the empty spaces with Your restoring, redeeming, life-giving Presence which “fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:23) Be mighty to save. Quiet their mourning spirits with the infinite, unfailing love You have for each one of us. May they know with assurance that just as “not a sparrow falls to the ground without Your knowing it” – You hold in Your hands each one that the flood waters took from our hands. As they grieve, may it not be as those without hope – BUT –

“May the God of hope fill them with all joy and peace as they trust in You, Lord, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Lord God, let Your love, stronger and deeper than any flood waters, surround those who are mourning, let Your love fill all their empty spaces, may Your love sustain them and carry them. Heavenly Father, we pray for all impacted by this flood, the same thing the apostle Paul prayed so many centuries ago,

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Heavenly Father, heal every hole in every heart, create a new spirit in the crushed and fill every empty space with Your abiding love.

sincerely, Grace Day

pain perks?

Posted on by Grace Day

That doesn’t sound right, does it? There’s an upside to pain? Well, there is the very familiar mantra – “no pain, no gain” which would seem to support the theory that pain does have its perks. Then there’s the saying – “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” Again, this seems to imply that there’s an upside to pain. Athletes would probably agree with this theory. The road to an athlete’s success, no matter what the sport, is probably paved with considerable pain, in addition to dedication and sacrifice. If you are watching any of the Olympic sporting contests currently in progress, you are seeing the results which are only achieved through the painful process of preparation that all athletes endure in order to realize their goal.

Of course, theirs is physical pain primarily. However, not just athletes, but each and every one of us endure emotional, mental, physical and spiritual pain as a part of the process that enables you and me to run life’s race and be successful. The apostle Paul knew about this. Paul would have preferred to bypass the pain, but he didn’t get a pass.

Paul had, as he himself described it – “a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me.” What did Paul do about this? We find the answer in 2 Corinthians.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ ”

Paul’s request was met with a definite “no.” How did Paul respond to having his request refused? Not in the way I would have expected him to do, nor in the way I think I would have responded. Paul didn’t pout or complain or argue or give up or walk away from his calling in Christ. He did just the opposite. Paul embraced his painful situation. How do I know this? I read Paul’s response after his request was turned down. Paul said –

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

I don’t know about you, but “delight” isn’t what comes to my mind when I am insulted, or when I am going through a tough time or when things are just so hard and painful that I want to give up, I want to quit. I prefer comfort to pain and ease over difficulty. BUT – if anything worthwhile is to be accomplished, pain and struggle will be a part of the process. Just ask any Olympic athlete – it is pain and having obstacles to overcome that lead to victory.

Paul had some things figured out in this regard. He endured many hardships in addition to his painful “thorn in the flesh.” Paul was shipwrecked, beaten and imprisoned many times. In Philippians, Paul shares with us his secret to enduring and even overcoming life’s painful trials and hardships. He says –

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Paul saying that he can do all things through the strength that God gives him, takes on a whole new meaning for me when I read Paul’s own account of the things he has experienced. Paul tells us –

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

That’s not a complete list, but you get the idea. Paul did not get the pain free life that Jabez requested and received. Still, Paul had no regrets. In fact, Paul said this in his letter to the church at Corinth –

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Paul’s been beaten, shipwrecked and imprisoned – none of that sounds very “light and momentary” to me. Yet that’s how Paul describes what he’s been through, saying the outcome of enduring these things will be an “eternal glory” for him, an outcome which will “outweigh them all”, meaning the hardships he has survived and overcome. This victory will make all the pain and suffering Paul endured worth it. I bet that’s how these Olympic athletes feel when they make the team or when they win a medal and take the podium to stand and receive their reward. James agrees with Paul on this matter. James says –

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

So I can be joyful in painful circumstances because the outcome will be better for me than if I had not encountered and endured pain in this life? I think Peter would attest to the truth of this. How do I know? Well, Peter said this –

” . . . now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

And Peter also said –

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)

So the perk of pain is a good outcome – one that cannot be achieved apart from pain? It would seem to be so. Consider this –

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:17)

No suffering – no glory. No pain – no gain. I can expect pain in this life. Jesus told us –

“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. (John 15:20) Jesus also warned us –

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I can’t avoid pain in this life BUT – it does have its perks. What I endure, persevere through and overcome now, produces in me those things that my Heavenly Father desires, preparing me for what is to come. I want to be able to say along with Paul these words –

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Yes, pain has its perks. I am in the race of my life. I am in the race for my life. The pain of it is producing in me perseverance, as James said. Perseverance allows me to endure and eventually to overcome. Then I will receive that “crown of righteousness” Paul talks about. Definitely better than any Olympic gold medal! And we can each receive this prize – it is available to “all who have longed for His appearing.” So –

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, . . . Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

fighting the good fight, keeping the faith –

sincerely, Grace Day

I’m no Jabez

Posted on by Grace Day

Twenty some years ago, a book entitled, “The Prayer of Jabez” became very popular with people everywhere, no matter their particular religious affiliation. This book made the name of Jabez a household name, even though prior to the book being published, I have to wonder how many people were familiar with the name of Jabez or knew anything about him? I can’t say that I did. I certainly didn’t remember Jabez from any childhood Bible stories.

As it turns out, there was probably a good reason for my lack of knowledge about Jabez. He is only mentioned in three Bible verses total, those being 1 Chronicles 2:55 and 1 Chronicles 4:9&10. So why the modern day obsession with Jabez and his prayer? I turned to 1 Chronicles to read his prayer for myself in an effort to belatedly discover what all the fuss has been about in recent years. I read this –

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

That’s it. That’s all we know. Jabez is never mentioned again in the Bible. So I assume since “God granted his request” that Jabez did indeed enjoy an enlarged territory and that he was protected by God’s hand and lived pain free. Doesn’t sound like my life or the life of anyone else I currently know. I feel like these words of Jesus to His disciples more accurately describe life today for me and for those around me.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

So why don’t I just pray the prayer of Jabez? It certainly worked for him. Well, I just can’t bring myself to do it – especially the “enlarge my territory!” part. Maybe it’s because I’m mindful of these words in Luke –

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” (Luke 16:10)

So I have to ask myself, am I currently faithfully using all that God has already given me, be it my money, my talents and abilities or my time in God’s service? And if not, meaning if my money, abilities and time are not fully surrendered to God now for His purposes and for His glory, why would I ask for more? In other words, if I’m not being a good steward of what God has already given me, why would I ask Him for more of anything?

Now it did say that “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.” Perhaps this description tells us that Jabez had indeed fully surrendered all of his territory to God and therefore he was ready for and desiring of more territory, which he would also dedicate to God, to be used for God’s purposes, not his own. God must have trusted Jabez to be faithful with more as Jabez had shown himself faithful with what God had already given him, because we are told – “God granted his (Jabez’s) request.”

Why don’t I pray Jabez’s prayer? Because I’m no Jabez. If I am honest, I would admit God has given me much, certainly more than I deserve, because of His great mercy. But I don’t think “my territory” – and all that is within it, my time, abilities, finances, my heart, mind, soul and strength are fully surrendered to God twenty-four/seven. Until I learn to fully and completely surrender all that I already have, there is no reason for me to ask God for more.

I can stop looking around at what other people have and thinking that I should have that, too. I don’t want to waste time petitioning God for something more or for something other than, something different than He’s already given me. When I’m focused on what I don’t have or on what I think I should have, I ignore or I forget what God has already given me. I neglect to use, to steward and to be grateful for all that God has already placed within my territory. I fail to do what God has put right in front of me to do for Him today. I don’t need a larger territory. I need to take better care of the territory God has already given me to steward for Him. I’m no Jabez.

Then there’s Jabez’s other request – that he would be kept from harm and live “free from pain.” Even Jesus didn’t get a pass from pain while He was living here on Earth. And Jesus did ask God for that pass, so I guess it’s okay for you and I to ask also. Jesus asked this of God when He prayed in Gethsemane saying –

“Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36)

Jesus was asking God to take the pain of His upcoming crucifixion away from Him. Yet even as He did this, Jesus simultaneously surrendered His will to God’s will for Him. I think I would do better to pray as Jesus prayed in this regard, rather than Jabez. Although who wouldn’t want to live life pain free? However, Peter does say this about pain –

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)

And James says this –

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-3)

Then I read in Corinthians this –

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Peter also says this about the pain you and I experience in this life –

“though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

So my pain will actually result in “praise, glory and honor” to Jesus when He is revealed! And in Romans I find another positive outcome of the pain I endure now –

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:17)

The privilege of sharing in Christ’s glory – that requires sharing first in His suffering. There are things that a pain free life cannot teach me. A pain free life will not conform me to the image of Christ, nor strengthen my faith, nor give me empathy, perseverance, courage or trust. The apostle, Paul, did not get a pain free life, but had his “thorn” which God did not take away from him, even when Paul asked God to remove this painful thorn. Paul understood pain and wrote these words in his letter to the church at Philippi –

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him,” (Philippians 1:29) and –

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)

Sharing in Christ’s sufferings will not be a pain free life BUT – quite the opposite. After all, Jesus told His disciples –

“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20)

I will pray with King David –

“grand me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” rather than pray with Jabez that I might be exempt from all pain.

After all, I’m no Jabez. I will experience life’s pain along with its God given joys.

I’m no Jabez. I don’t need and I would be foolish to ask for, a larger territory. I still need to learn how to faithfully steward the territory God has already entrusted to me, lest that, too, be taken from me. My prayer?

Lord, shrink my territory and bring on the pain. After all, I’m no Jabez.

Lord, help me to faithfully care for the territory You have given me. Thank You for Your abiding Presence with me always. May I know Your comfort in my pain, Your peace in uncertain circumstances, Your light in this world’s darkness, Your mercy in my mistakes, Your hope in my despair, Your strength in my weakness, Your wisdom in my foolishness, Your truth in a world of deception, Your provision in my want, Your protection when evil and enemies surround me, Your voice in the stillness and in the clamor – may I know – You.

sincerely, Grace Day