Prayer for healing and hope in Christ
Alicia Searle
Bible reading:
“But I will restore your health and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord, “for you are called an outcast, Zion, where no one cares.” Jeremiah 30:17
Listen or read below:
A few years ago, I fell down my neighbor’s stairs just before Thanksgiving. I don’t think they should have picked up the child with socks on, especially since their house has wood floors throughout. Yet, when my little one begged me to see the super cool fort they had built and started tugging at my hand eagerly (because I wasn’t moving fast enough), I lost my balance…and I fell. Hmm!
I broke my leg and several of my toes. I know it could have been much worse, but traveling on a scooter while on vacation is not easy and unfortunately it took away a bit of my “vacation energy”. Thankfully, I received a lot of support from my family and close friends.
Then Christmas morning arrived and we took a huge detour from our best laid plans. After opening the presents, I knew something was wrong with my oldest daughter, so I poked and prodded until she finally confessed to me about some things that I felt was going on deep down (I call it motherly intuition) but that I really hoped weren’t true. Over a cup of coffee, she shared and revealed everything, and some of that discouraging news completely devastated me. I was grateful for his confession, but I had no idea how to proceed.
To be honest, everything was a blur that day. But sadly, I remember feeling angry and even resentful. I had to act like everything was fine even when everything wasn’t. I had to force myself to feel joy when all I felt was pain. My heart was completely shattered, but right after my daughter told me some things I didn’t know how to handle, I had no choice but to smile and entertain the family that streamed through the door.
But in that moment, Christ found a daughter in me. I really don’t know how, but he did it. I wanted to scream and enforce discipline. I wanted to hide in a hole. I wanted to throw daggers at her. But instead, I hugged her and declared that the enemy was not going to win. It has given us time to press the pause button and reflect on why we celebrate, knowing that Christ gives us hope for tomorrow.
As we enter a new beautiful season that radiates joy and brings peace, you may be struggling with physical adjustments, health issues, or emotional baggage and mental pain. If so, I urge you to hold fast to today’s precious promise found in Jeremiah 30:17.
The prophet Jeremiah delivers a message to the troubled people of Judah, filled with fear and warning of God’s judgment and wrath. But because the Lord is just, holy, and righteous, He still has a promise that Israel and Judah will be delivered from captivity and returned to their own land. Furthermore, the Lord declares that He will give healing and hope. This was important because they suffered both visible and invisible wounds and lived in exile and darkness for years. So, although they may deserve anger, God has given them hope for a new day.
Friends, we serve a God who has mercy on the hurt, the sick, the abandoned, and the suffering. God wants us to know that He sees our wounds, understands our pain, and is acutely aware of the turmoil it causes, especially in the spirit. But the Lord asks us to cling to the promise that He can and will restore us in a way that foreshadows the eternal healing that will come through His presence. This Christmas, will you have that hope and ask Christ for the healing you really need?
Let’s pray:
God of healing, God of faithfulness and promise, Jehovah Rapha, today I come before you and ask for your healing hand on my heart, mind, body, and soul. I abandon the pain, the worry, the test results, the big news, the impending fracture and turn to You.
You are the God who heals a wounded nation and delivers it from captivity. A god who heals those with incurable diseases, raises the dead, and breathes new life into those with broken hearts. You are the God who extends your promises in your Word and continues to touch and restore lives with the hope of healing today. Oh God, grant me that promise and the strength to lean into Christ this season. A season for seeking eternal hope.
In your holy name I ask, amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/PeteWill
Alicia Searle is a dedicated author, blogger, and speaker who is passionate about pouring out her heart and leading women of all ages to Jesus. She has an academic background and holds a master’s degree in reading and writing. Her loved ones call her Mama. So much of her time is spent cheering them on at softball games and dance classes. She’s married to her crush (a tall, spiky-haired blonde) who can make a mean latte. She writes her heart on the page while sipping on the deliciousness as the puppy licks her paws. Visit her website aliciasearl.com and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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