Dear ones, does it feel all dark, so overwhelming at times?
When you go to pray, does it feel empty, you know not where to start?
We live in such a sad, broken world.
Saints before us have trod this path, as Jesus Himself said: "These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have PEACE.
In the world ye shall have tribulation, but BUT be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Below is a prayer by a German in World War 2, fighting for the right, in prison for Christ, weak, feeble.. in the Bonhoeffer movie this was a prayer he prayed with a young man weeping inconsolably in the cell next door. Bonhoeffer cried out to him, the guard remonstrated at first, then allowed him to speak. Dietrich put his outstretched arms raised on the wall, he told the young man to do likewise, and prayed this prayer he'd written with him.
"In me there is darkness,
But with You there is light;
I am lonely, but You do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with You there is help;
I am restless, but with You there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with You there is patience;
I do not understand Your ways,
But You know the way for me.”
“Lord Jesus Christ,
You were poor
And in distress, a captive and forsaken as I am.
You know all man’s troubles;
You abide with me
When all men fail me;
You remember and seek me;
It is Your will that I should know You
And turn to You.
Lord, I hear Your call and follow;
Help me.
The youth was quiet after praying that prayer, line by line repeating Pastor Bonhoeffer’s words, at peace at his death. Impressed, the guard asked that a copy might be given to help the other prisoners.
Bonhoeffer died one month before war's end, like other good Germans who tried to bring down Hitler. (For brief moving biography, see this link here).
This too shall pass, or more truly as the bible says, it "..is but for a moment”.
The persecution in first century believers by Caligula, Nero, then onto Tyndale, Wycliffe for bible translation: the dark depths of Dark ages, with many plagues, the fire of London, which purged the mice causing the plague! All is God at work.
God alone brings good from bad.
What seemingly is trial upon trial, all of it has a higher Heavenly purpose!
We serve a suffering Saviour, as He suffered, so do we. The servant is not greater than his Master.
Moving on into 20th century, the war to end all wars, World War 1. Followed swiftly by the Spanish flu which killed 50+ million worldwide. Many more than current Covid-19 deaths of 4 million worldwide (world average death rate of approx 1 to 2% of those infected from Covid-19). Aust. as of today has had 965 deaths (820 in Victoria) from Covid-19. In a much smaller 1918 Aust population - 55,000 died with 1918/19 influenza, and 40% of population fell ill with it. History truly gives us a clearer perspective than the daily news.
Then in World War 2 came such dreadful minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years of overwhelming darkness.
Yes!
Now though for some is deep darkness, praying much for the grief of poor nations like Afghanistan, that is real sorrow of heart.. but such grief, despair surely drives the spiritually hungry to seek the One Who alone is truth.
We, who believe in the Living God, it should cause us to pray more earnestly for them, all of them, their salvation and for ourselves.
Look not in, but wholeheartedly out and up.. that is a Godward look.
"This too shall pass" can be said of it all, till Christ comes. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Paul knew well that fact, as he penned these words, it "..is but for a moment"...
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
In Pauline fashion we are pointed to Christ, our Saviour, and to the Heavenlies where, by salvation we are now seated (link to Eph 2:4-6) and thus to ETERNITY.
Yes, let us keep our eyes 👀 on ETERNAL things.
"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.." Heb 12:2
This flesh and the place we physically inhabit, mercifully it is a temporary thing, "it is but for a moment", it will pass .. in the twinkling of an eye! (see 1 Cor 15:52)
So when you enter the closet of your heart to pray ... and your heart fails you for fear!
Go to the living Word, praying as Jesus' disciples did, "Lord, teach us to pray". Therein read, feed, heed and pray the scriptures you love, or those which challenge you! I have many prayers in notes in my online bible, all are based on a verse or scripture passage, which daily I pray as able.
God's Word is our very foundation, it must be the woven into the very fabric of our Christian walk. It is the basis for all our communication in prayer with our Heavenly Father.
Start simply as a stumbling little child, as Dietrich did.. stating the obvious THEN looking to what we have in Christ.. Our Lord, our Anchor, our Stronghold in time of trouble. God loves it when we cling to Him.
If not showing. Hymn link here.
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land,
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.
The Lord's our Rock, in him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm
A shade by day, defense by night,
A shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright,
A shelter in the time of storm.
O Rock Divine, O Refuge dear,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Be thou our helper ever near,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Hymn by Vernon J. Charlesworth
So as we go to pray, in the constant, frequent moments of our day, let us remember to pray, simply as a child, resting in, clinging to our Rock, our Hope of salvation.
Without Christ, the world is a scary place (as that young weeping prisoner found).
Christ is HOPE fulfilled.
Praying for you today, in whatever you maybe facing in your life, or in the lives of those you love, remembering with you that our wonderful Father God is only ever a prayer away! Surely He giveth more grace!
Grace for the day, and strength for the way!
