Throughout life there will be seasons where we go through times of weakness and difficulties where the weight and the pain and the hurt just feel too much to bear. In these seasons and moments, we must remember, dear Christian, to look to Jesus and to put our hope and trust in Him, not turning a blind eye to our situation but transferring the burden from us to Him. The Bible tells us He is our Rock of deliverance (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 62:2). He is the One who will not only sustain us in and through our challenges here and now, but He will also return to permanently bring us to glory with Him (John 14:1-3) either through our passing from this life to the next (2 Corinthians 5:8) or His return to bring us to where He is (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Our trials and tribulations are only momentary afflictions but we must remember that there is a greater purpose for our suffering and a greater reward where we should cast our eyes. He did not leave us without gracious help, for He has given us two very powerful and beneficial commands to sustain us until we arrive with Him in glory, they are prayer and worship.

If you ever feel like the trials you are facing are too much to bear, or the wait in the midst of them does not seem to have an end, turn to Jesus alone (1 Peter 5:6-7), lay those burdens at His feet and focus on His promises and receive His grace and peace that surpasses all understanding (Psalm 55:22; John 14:27). What are His promises you may ask? Look to His Word for them, it is a treasure of promise, for He is the Living Word (Revelation 19:13). His promises are everlasting (Ezekiel 12:25). The promise that, if you are in Christ then He is with you always (Matthew 28:20), you are never alone (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5). The promise that testing and trials are at work for the good of every believer (Romans 8:28) and even for those He is drawing to Himself (Proverbs 3:7-8, Hebrews 12:6-11), even if you can’t see it. The promise that He is coming back to bring you with Him to a place of peace, deliverance (from sin, suffering and pain), holiness and justice (John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 21:1-4). These are just highlights of the many promises He gives to us in scripture.

Scripture also tells us to unceasingly go to the Lord in prayer with supplication (a humble submission of pleading) and thanksgiving, making a petition with reverence and humbleness as to a King and/or a Father (Philippians 4:6). This is not an option for us as Christians, it is a command in scripture from Jesus, for He said “when you pray”, not if you pray when He instructed His disciples in the early part of His ministry (Matthew 6:5-6). However, we must not look at prayer as a duty, but rather a privilege. Prayer is an amazing benefit to the redeemed who now have direct access to our heavenly Father. Because of the virtue of the blood of Jesus, we can come boldly to the throne of Grace (Hebrews 10:19). This throne room is where we can commune with our heavenly Father as one of His children (Ephesians 2:5-7). When we pray, God meets us there, His Spirit helps us and our Savior intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25). When we come to Him in prayer, it is not just a form of communication with God, it is also worship. When we worship Him in these moments, He restores us (Psalm 23:1-3), teaches us (Psalm 29:1-2) and lifts us so we can continue on, growing in our holiness (Romans 12:1), persevering in our trials so we can finish the race He has given us to run (2 Timothy 4:7). Worship and prayer are medicine for our soul and a gracious gift from our Lord (Psalm 103:2-3; Jeremiah 17:14; Psalm 30:2).

Christian, today, if you are in this place of exhaustion, despair or weakness, as I am now as I write this article, I challenge you to go to the Scriptures and meditate on our Lord’s promises for His saints. Out of that truth (John 17:17), speak to Him in prayer, lift up your burdens for He already knows what you need before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8), but He wants to meet with you (Matthew 6:6a). Understand that wherever you are in your situatuon, it may be exactly right where you need to be, where God is allowing you to be. We must not be too quick to want out of the fiery trial we are in, but instead we should intrust our desires to an omniscient and loving God, asking that His will be done, not our own. This is exactly what Jesus demonstrated so often, especially in the garden on the night before His betrayal (Luke 22:42). We must be willing to trust the Father completely, for just as God had an ultimate purpose for Jesus’ affliction leading to the salvation of all who would believe, likewise, He may be doing a good work in us which we may not even realize in the midst of the difficulty. In response to these challenges, pray often and worship Him in songs of praise. In doing so you will find the healing properties that these gracious gifts He provides us as believers will sustain us as we strive to fight the good fight, to finish our race, to keep the faith! (2 Timothy 4:7)

The hymn, How Long, O Lord, is a song of praise that, for me, helps to facilitate a posture of praise in affliction where I can bring these requests to my heavenly Father who knows me, knows my trials, can sympathize with my weaknesses and who loves us more than we can possibly imagine (Hebrews 4:14-16). I pray it would be a song that would do the same for you. Remember, we serve a God who is sovereign, omnipotent and faithful to keep every one of His promises to His children (2 Corinthians 1:20; (Psalm 89:33-36).

“May the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)