I strongly believe that the Bible becomes more precious and more real when you have walked through a trial, a difficult time, or a struggle. Jesus becomes more dear; Someone you can’t imagine walking without. As I was reading my Bible recently, I came across Hezekiah’s prayer of praise to the Lord (after the Lord spared him from a terminal illness and extended his life). I believe many of us can relate to his deep gratitude after experience the power of God.
I said: In the prime[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][h] of my life[i]
I must go to the gates of Sheol;
I am deprived of the rest of my years.
11 I said: I will never see the Lord,
the Lord in the land of the living;
I will not look on humanity any longer
with the inhabitants of what is passing away.[j]
12 My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me
like a shepherd’s tent.
I have rolled up my life like a weaver;
He cuts me off from the loom.[k]
You make an end of me from day until night.
13 I thought until the morning:
He will break all my bones like a lion;
You make an end of me day and night.
14 I chirp like a swallow or a crane;
I moan like a dove.
My eyes grow weak looking upward.
Lord, I am oppressed; support me.
15 What can I say?
He has spoken to me,
and He Himself has done it.
I walk along slowly all my years
because of the bitterness of my soul,
16 Lord, because of these promises people live,
and in all of them is the life of my spirit as well;
You have restored me to health
and let me live.
17 Indeed, it was for my own welfare
that I had such great bitterness;
but Your love has delivered me
from the Pit of destruction,
for You have thrown all my sins behind Your back.
18 For Sheol cannot thank You;
Death cannot praise You.
Those who go down to the Pit
cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
19 The living, only the living can thank You,
as I do today;
a father will make Your faithfulness known to children.
20 The Lord will[l] save me;
we will play stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
at the house of the Lord.Isaiah 38:10-20
Another one of my favorite passages is found in the book of Luke. Jesus had healed a man who was demon-possessed:
35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind. Luke 8:35
Jesus doesn’t only heal sickness that manifests outwardly. He heals the mind, the emotions. He heals the broken places that other people can’t “see,” (yet that’s the brokenness that keeps us in a private prison). I think it’s so interesting that the writer of this book, Luke, was a physician, and he was the Gospel writer who added this detail. The man was restored to his mental health, which truly set him free.
Don’t underestimate the power of God in your difficult (maybe seemingly helpless) situation. God desires to restore you and walk with you every step of the way until you can truly say:
My soul, praise Yahweh,
and all that is within me, praise His holy name.
2 My soul, praise the Lord,
and do not forget all His benefits.
3 He forgives all your sin;
He heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit;
He crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you[a] with goodness;
your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Psalm 103:1-5
