A Prayer of Encouragement

“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;” (Ps 20:1-2 AV)

Sometimes we need it overly simple.  No deep theological thoughts.  No pithy applications.  Sometimes we need a very simple way to look at our situation and realize the Word of God can meet us in any and all circumstances of life.

One of the pleasures of pastoring is the ability to see things that the sheep cannot see.  Or, putting it another way, it is a blessing to have faith for others.  Specially when they are going through very rough waters.  BTW, it is quite another when you, the pastor, are going through deep waters.  It helps to have someone who can have faith for thee!  Anyway, there seems to be an understanding that no matter how difficult the circumstances of life might be, God is equal to the task.  The pastor is faced with serious injury or illness.  He is faced with death and funerals.  He is faced with marital counseling.  He is faced with wayward children or broken homes.  He is faced with addiction counseling, visiting in the jails, or even counseling with the emotionally unstable.  The LORD gives him a sense of where it may end up.  Even in circumstances that could end in tragedy, he knows that God is greater than what any one of us will face.

This is David’s prayer of encouragement to a nation that is facing the unknown.  His simple prayer is the encouragement they will need to go on in the will of the Father.  There are times when others ask us to pray for them because they are going through a really hard time.  We try to forecast what the LORD might do and pray to that end.  Or, we pray for a tremendous miracle when the LORD does not intend to bring one.  We struggle with words to pray aloud when all we really need to do is to pray a prayer like the one above.  We may not know what the future holds.  We may not know what the will of the LORD is concerning a difficult situation.  But what we can pray – and with great confidence – is that the LORD would strengthen the individual and be present with them in the midst of the deepest trial.  That is a prayer that will not go unanswered.