Another Sick Friend

I’m saddened to say to that I just found out that another one of my friends has been diagnosed with cancer; too many in the past year… too many in my lifetime.

Cancer and other serious illnesses fall into that category called “the storms of life” - that’s when bad things happen that we have no control over. Life as we know it can change so fast that it takes us by surprise, sometimes literally in seconds; some bad accident or some unexpected diagnosis involving us or a loved one.

Let’s face it; we don’t know why bad things happen…. Sometimes we may ask “why me?” or “why my family?”

In one of the Psalms of Asaph, an Old Testament Levite commissioned by King David to be in charge of the singing in God’s house, Asaph is contemplating the evil around him…. And he says “…When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless…” (Psalm 73:16 CSB)

One of the most important things to remember when we find ourselves in the midst of one of the storms of life is that we must keep our faith in the LORD.

While struggling with the evil around him, King David prayed these words…. God, listen to my prayer and do not ignore my plea for help.  ² Pay attention to me and answer me. I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint, (Psa 55:1-2 CSB)….

And then skipping down to verse 22…. Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Psa 55:22 CSB)

You can be assured that God will see you through every one of life’s storms. The results may not always be what we want, but pray that glory will come to God whatever happens.

Prayer is a relationship - what does your relationship with God look like? Prayer is the fellowship we have with God; a privilege like no other.

Let there be NO MISTAKE - praying to God makes a difference…. Pay attention to these words… 

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

 ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord.

 ¹⁵ The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will restore him to health; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

 ¹⁶ Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

 ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.

 ¹⁸ Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.  (Jam 5:13-18 CSB)

Pray for others and treasure the journey as you witness God changing lives and healing people.

May God bless everyone who takes the time to pray…

Paul.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Used by Permission HCSB ©1999,2000,2002,2003,2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.