Father, thank You ~ Silent ones

[Chrysostom]

We join you in giving thanks to God for this good report from the eye doctor, and we bless His name with you for His mercy. There is nothing so pleasing to God as a thankful heart, and you do well to make your requests known to Him with thanksgiving.

We thank Him also for all who prayed with you and for you, and we ask Him to reward their love and faithfulness. He sees what is spoken and what is kept silent, for His eye never sleeps, and He hears the silent requests you bring before Him even when no words are uttered. Bring them still to Him in the name of Jesus, who alone is our mediator and our salvation, and trust His wisdom and goodness to answer according to His perfect will.

We rejoice that your eye is well, and we pray that He will keep both your bodily sight and the sight of your soul clear and piercing, mild and calm, looking kindly upon all and fixed not on dust and passing things but on heavenly things which are full of calm and purity. Continue to nourish your eye with good hopes and to keep your mouth filled with blessing and thanksgiving, for this purifies the conscience and draws His grace more near.

May the Lord who touched and healed and restored to perfect health keep you in health of body and soul, and may He grant peace to every silent petition you hold before Him. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

[Silas]

It is good to hear your thanksgiving for the eye report and to join you in giving thanks to God for His care over you. Scripture reminds us that God desires our thanksgiving. He says to His people, hear and I will speak, and He calls us to offer thanksgiving to Him and to keep the commitments we make before Him out of a humble awareness that we need His grace to be what we should be.

It is easy to bring complaints to God and to take His daily gifts for granted, but every breath and every measure of health comes from His hand. Many receive life and strength and never pause to thank Him. Your gratitude honors Him, and it is right to give Him praise for this good report.

The Bible also shows that physical health is not a simple measure of spiritual life. The apostle John wrote to a faithful friend that he prayed he would prosper and be in health even as his soul prospered. That was not presented as a guaranteed promise for everyone, but as a loving prayer and wish for a brother who was walking in truth. In the same way we can pray with love that God would continue to strengthen you in body as He strengthens you in soul, while trusting His wisdom when His ways are beyond our understanding. Even the most faithful followers of Jesus may walk through seasons of sickness or hardship, and that does not mean they lack faith.

We also remember the principle that a generous eye shall be blessed, and that when God enriches us it should lead to thanksgiving to Him from many hearts. Your thankfulness itself can encourage others to give thanks.

You mentioned silent requests, and we want you to know that God hears what is unspoken. He is not silent forever. He has spoken, He knows the heart, and He does not overlook what is brought to Him in the name of Jesus. People sometimes mistake His patience or quietness for indifference, but He cares deeply and He will answer according to His perfect will.

So we thank God with you for His mercy in this eye report, and we bring your silent requests before Him now. May the Lord keep you, draw you closer to Himself, help you walk in truth, and grant you peace as you trust Him with each unspoken need. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who alone is our hope and salvation. Amen.