Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for sharing your heart so honestly and for committing these matters to the Lord. We have prayed for you and we join you in praying for those who are mourning loved ones after the earthquake, that God would sustain them and comfort them deeply in their grief. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and He alone can give the comfort that endures, and we ask Him in Jesus name to uphold those who are suffering loss, to provide for their daily needs, and to draw them to the hope that is found only in Christ.
We also bring your own need before the Lord for wisdom, healing, leading, peace and restful sleep. An unexpected message after five years of silence can stir many memories and feelings at once, and when that is joined with sorrow over a loved one who has gone to be with the Lord, it is understandable that sleep would be broken and the heart would feel unsettled. God sees all of this and He invites you to cast every care upon Him because He cares for you.
Scripture reminds us that God still sets before each of us the way of life and the way of death, and He calls us to choose the way of life by walking in His truth. Part of that choice is seeking His guidance before we act, especially when emotions are strong. Like those who asked Jeremiah to seek the Lord for them, we are wise to seek the Lord ourselves and to say, I will pray and wait for His answer. James tells us that if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously, and He will give it. That promise is for you now as you ask what to do and how to answer.
The central message God has given us is simple and clear, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Through Jesus Christ alone we have peace with God, and that peace is the foundation for peace in our own hearts. When we have received that salvation, God also speaks to us personally through His Word. As you open the Bible with a prayerful heart, the Lord can make a verse or passage speak directly to your situation and give you light for the next step. His purpose in speaking is always to give us opportunity to respond in faith and obedience, not to diminish or soften His truth but to lead us into life.
For the days ahead, we encourage you to not answer hastily out of sleeplessness or stirred feelings. Bring the message and every memory it awakened to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to search your heart, to show you your motives, to guard you from being led only by emotion, and to make His will clear through His Word and through godly counsel. It can be helpful to write down what you are feeling, to pray over it, to rest, and to wait until you have a settled sense of peace and clarity before you respond. Whatever you do, let your words be truthful, gracious, and consistent with a life that honors Christ, and fully commit the future to Him as you have already expressed desire to do.
We pray that the Lord will restore to you His peace that passes understanding, that He will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and that He will grant you sound and restful sleep. May He quiet the sad thoughts with His presence, heal the places that still hurt, and lead you step by step so that you know not only what to say but whether and when to say it.
Father, we lift up all who mourn after the earthquake. Comfort them, sustain them, and reveal to them the hope of eternal life through Jesus. We lift up this dear one who has asked for prayer. Grant wisdom for every decision, healing for the heart, Your clear leading, Your perfect peace, and quiet, restorative sleep. Guide every word and every response, and let the future rest securely in Your hands. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and our peace, amen.
We also bring your own need before the Lord for wisdom, healing, leading, peace and restful sleep. An unexpected message after five years of silence can stir many memories and feelings at once, and when that is joined with sorrow over a loved one who has gone to be with the Lord, it is understandable that sleep would be broken and the heart would feel unsettled. God sees all of this and He invites you to cast every care upon Him because He cares for you.
Scripture reminds us that God still sets before each of us the way of life and the way of death, and He calls us to choose the way of life by walking in His truth. Part of that choice is seeking His guidance before we act, especially when emotions are strong. Like those who asked Jeremiah to seek the Lord for them, we are wise to seek the Lord ourselves and to say, I will pray and wait for His answer. James tells us that if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously, and He will give it. That promise is for you now as you ask what to do and how to answer.
The central message God has given us is simple and clear, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Through Jesus Christ alone we have peace with God, and that peace is the foundation for peace in our own hearts. When we have received that salvation, God also speaks to us personally through His Word. As you open the Bible with a prayerful heart, the Lord can make a verse or passage speak directly to your situation and give you light for the next step. His purpose in speaking is always to give us opportunity to respond in faith and obedience, not to diminish or soften His truth but to lead us into life.
For the days ahead, we encourage you to not answer hastily out of sleeplessness or stirred feelings. Bring the message and every memory it awakened to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to search your heart, to show you your motives, to guard you from being led only by emotion, and to make His will clear through His Word and through godly counsel. It can be helpful to write down what you are feeling, to pray over it, to rest, and to wait until you have a settled sense of peace and clarity before you respond. Whatever you do, let your words be truthful, gracious, and consistent with a life that honors Christ, and fully commit the future to Him as you have already expressed desire to do.
We pray that the Lord will restore to you His peace that passes understanding, that He will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and that He will grant you sound and restful sleep. May He quiet the sad thoughts with His presence, heal the places that still hurt, and lead you step by step so that you know not only what to say but whether and when to say it.
Father, we lift up all who mourn after the earthquake. Comfort them, sustain them, and reveal to them the hope of eternal life through Jesus. We lift up this dear one who has asked for prayer. Grant wisdom for every decision, healing for the heart, Your clear leading, Your perfect peace, and quiet, restorative sleep. Guide every word and every response, and let the future rest securely in Your hands. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and our peace, amen.
