A Prayer for Ones Struggling Physically….
The other day a young woman asked me a great, honest question:
“Does God love me because He must love me—because that’s just what God does—or does God love me for me?”
My answer was “Both! God is infinite, far beyond our comprehension. God’s very character is love. Even though it’s a mystery I cannot comprehend, God is love!” (1 John 4:8)
But God is also intimate. The psalmist David said that when we were being knit together in our mothers’ wombs, God knew us. Jesus said God knows the number of hairs on each person’s head.
Later the same day as this conversation, a friend who lives many miles away asked me to write a prayer of encouragement for a single mom who is battling a severe illness, isolated with no visitors allowed, in an ICU hospital bed.
O, Lord, help me! I prayed, feeling inadequate and not having a clue what to write. From this quick petition, combined with my earlier conversation, I wrote the following prayer, edited to remove all personal references.
If you or someone you care about is struggling physically right now, please accept the words of this prayer.
Thank you, God, that you are both infinite and intimate—that you love us not only because your very nature is love, but you also know each of us intimately. You were with us when our bodies were being formed within our mother’s wombs, and you know what every day of our lives will look like. As I pray for ones I do not know but am convinced YOU KNOW, I praise you because each has been fearfully and wonderfully made; (referencing Psalm 139—one of my very favorite passages of Scripture.)
My prayer is that those reading these words will feel your infinite and intimate love during this dark and difficult time.
For every medical professional caring for that precious person, I ask for compassion and clarity. Give them strength to do the work of healing you have created them to do.
I ask you to enable this person’s body to respond well to medical treatments.
As this person continues to gain physical strength day by day, may she or he feel deeply within her/his emotions and spirit your peace that transcends human understanding. (Philippians 4:6 & 7)
Ignite a spark of hope in every weary mind.
When fear assaults in the nighttime hours, please give him or her the experience of the psalmist who said,
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
While sick individuals lie in a hospital, convalescent facility, or at home in bed, and even following their release, I ask you to surprise them with glimpses of your great love and generous gifts.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I bring boldly these requests on behalf of those whose names I may not know but you do know…
Amen
