Ever Interceding

Prayer And Suffering

Do you ever find yourself trying to pray with tears flowing from your eyes and no words coming out of your mouth? I recently found myself in this place.

My pastor and his wife desire to start a family. Having endured two miscarriages, they recently received a positive result on a pregnancy test, so the church elders and their wives met at the pastor’s home to pray for and anoint the young couple with oil. Remembering the faith of the woman with the blood disease, each person praying received a tzitzit.

We all walked away from that prayer gathering with such peace that this would be a healthy pregnancy.

This was it! This baby was going to be!

The couple was meeting with the doctor the following morning to check the baby’s progress and development. At 8:30 a.m., they sent the group a picture of themselves holding the tzitzit, and we all continued praying along with them.

Time passed; it got later in the morning, but there was no word. I kept looking at the clock.

Then, at 10:31 a.m., the following text came from our pastor:

“We didn’t get the news we were hoping for this morning. It’s looking like an ectopic pregnancy. The ultrasound clearly showed there was nothing in the uterus, and there’s a possible gestational sack by the left ovary. We’re waiting to hear the results of bloodwork taken this morning to confirm, then we’ll decide on next steps, one of which could be surgery tomorrow. We’re both obviously disappointed, but overall, are doing fine. We appreciate your prayers through this whole process and your continued prayers as we figure out what’s next.”

Immediately it felt as if we were sucker punched. Tears began to flow; we were sick to our stomachs.

God had a different plan.

Many other situations were also surrounding me at this time: two sisters were battling ovarian cancer while their mom was struggling with her own health issues; a friend had suffered a heart attack on Father’s Day and, as I write this, is still fighting for his life after spending ten weeks in the hospital; and another friend has a cyst on her brain that is causing health issues. The list continues. Many of my family and friends are dealing with incredible needs and concerns. Times like this can leave us feeling sad, discouraged, and even defeated.

BUT GOD is the lifter of our head.

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head (Psalm 3:3 ESV).

Always in life, but maybe especially when it feels like we are attacked from all angles, God is there, calling us to meditate on His Word and, as we do, showing us His love.

God uses our pain for His glory. 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 ESV).

I have a friend who refers to this verse, saying, “And WE KNOW.” No matter what we are called to endure, we can always say, “And we know!”

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today (Genesis 50:20 ESV).

In our ever interceding, we receive peace in the midst of our sufferings.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV).

There is purpose in the suffering.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV).

Paul had begged the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh three times, but the Lord didn’t remove it because, in his weakness, Christ was made strong.

Even in our pain, God teaches us His way.

”Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people” (Exodus 33:13 ESV).

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long (Psalm 25:4-5 ESV).

Despite the pain, we can experience joy. May we, like James, say:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4 ESV).

In conclusion, let us always remember, God is:

… still God

… still on the throne

… still in control

… still working it out for my good

… still teaching me

… still trustworthy

… still good

… still faithful

The list goes on!

Prayer in our sufferings aligns us with a God who cares and knows; this is why we can be ever interceding to an all-knowing God in the midst of our pain and suffering…HE KNOWS!

Share with us how God has used a difficult situation in your life. How did you pray? What verse or verses ministered to you in that season? Send an email to Diana@womenworldleaders.com We love hearing your God stories!