How would you describe suffering?
Is it mental anguish? Is it physical pain? Is it dying?
Billy Graham once said “Many people say they do not fear death, but the process of dying. It’s not the destination, but the trip that they dread.”
I remember when I had prostate cancer in 2008. Upon diagnosis, I had no idea how serious it was. I can remember praying:
“Lord it’s not death that scares me, it’s the suffering. Please don’t let me suffer.”
King David prayed once “Answer me when I pray to you, my God who does what is right. Make things easier for me when I am in trouble. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” (Psalms 4:1 NCV)
In the end, the true plea toward escaping suffering and enjoying blessing is our prayers to God. It’s just true.
You can work hard, think you have found the right mate, stay healthy and even be rich, but you can’t control all circumstance that surround your life.
You can’t escape the pain of others, nor the fear of a dreaded disease or catastrophe. Trust me, I have leukemia and I’ve been working hard all my life and here I am with leukemia.
My life is now, and always has been in the hands of God. That’s why King David prayed to Him. He knew God loves. God is merciful. God is the one in contorl. God has a plan for you and me.
It sounds so cliche, yet God really has laid out a plan for your life.
And here’s the thing - you won’t escape it. You can try, but God will out orchestrate the details beyond your control. And that’s a good thing. Because God loves and wants the best for us.
King Solomon once said “People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord’s plan will happen.” (Proverbs 19:21 NCV) This is called “sovereign”. God’s plan is sovereign.
This means supreme power. It’s not you, it’s not those around you, it’s God that will cause the end - his end result to happen. And thank God for his sovereignty because he loves you and me and has a good and Godly plan for us.
Say this prayer with me:
LORD, you are well aware of the things I fear, fight and wish were not in my life. Please hear my prayer. Help me live for you. Help me with my trouble. Please have mercy on me and hear my prayer. Heal me of the things that trouble me - please heal me now. Make me strong, straight as an arrow and live for you and love others as myself. IJNIP amen ♥️
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