Giving Thanks in the Storm
I looked at my beautiful girl as she struggled with life. My heart ached because I could not make it easier, but the truth is the struggles make us strong.
Perhaps that is why God blessed the God-wrestler Jacob. The struggle strengthened and refined Jacob. It isn’t the easy things in life we cherish anyway. We cherish family – that refining wonderfully frustrating group of people to whom we are related. We cherish the marriage that required hard work to maintain and build up intimacy.
Perhaps it is the storms that make us strong and draw us closer to God. Maybe instead of thanking God so often for the easy in life, we should thank Him for the storms. The storms that bring pain, but also joy we never knew possible. The floods that wipe us clean of the filth to which we cling and bring us to the end of ourselves, our schemes. When the storms pass then we are truly thankful for the sun.
So I pray for us as we walk through the storms or the sun that we count it all joy for God’s glory.
Father God I pray for each person reading this blog post right now. I thank You that You created them and that You have perfect plans for their lives. I pray that those experiencing storms right now would feel Your comforting, peace-bringing presence. I pray as they draw near You in this storm that You would strengthen them and guide them for Your glorious purpose. May they give You thanks even now. For those walking in the mundane of life, Father help them to see the sunshine and thank You for all Your gifts of love and mercy. May they never lose sight of You as they walk through life and may they honor You in all they say and do. Father for those just stepping into the sun after a long storm, give them rest for a while on Your mountaintop. Help prepare them for the journey ahead. May they be obedient to serve You all their days. In Jesus’ precious and powerful name I pray. Amen.
How can I pray for you today? Leave a comment and let me know.
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Lovely prayer. I can tell it came from the heart. Thanks.
Wonderful, and timely, post. I’m amazed at how God can use someone else’s blog post to speak to me. My son was born on Oct 26, after a struggle with infertility and then a “perfect” pregnancy, labor, & delivery. After his birth, the “best” day ever was filled with heartache and so many questions (questions to doctors, questions to ourselves, questions to God). We learned that our precious son had several health concerns, including a heart defect and Down syndrome. After 10 days in the NICU, our son is home and our calendar is filled with follow-up appointments with various specialists. Our life now is not what we expected it to be a couple weeks ago, but we are doing our best to trust that God will guide us through and make sense of it all in His time.
Father God I pray for Stephaine, her husband, and her precious baby boy. Father God we do not understand this storm, but we know You have a plan. So we pray right now that You will be Stephanie’s (and her family’s) refuge and shelter. Father may Your presence be so real to them that they cannot explain the peace they are experiencing. Father help them to hear Your voice as they wrestle out the whys and doubts and fears with You. Help them to cling to You as the storm rages. Be their strength, their peace, their everything. Be with their baby boy. Father You are the great physician and we know You are able to do all things. So we pray for his health, we pray for his future, and we know God You know all things and have a plan for his future. I lift this family to You for Your glory and honor and grace. Comfort them, be with them. In Jesus’ name Amen.
I will continue to pray for you Stephanie.