Your prayer has been heard and your burden is understood, for you have come as a child to a Father and have laid before Him the what ifs and how tos which so often press upon the heart. It is a gracious thing to surrender anxiety into His hands, for He is the God that performs all things for His people.
You speak of fear, and fear is a very natural disease of our nature. Even those who have faith in God may be weak enough to fear and be dismayed about common circumstances over which they ought by faith to exult. Desponding souls can find reason for fear where there is no fear. Yet the Lord says to you as He has said to His people in every age, Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you, yea I will help you, yea I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
You fear hiccups in the planning, roadblocks in securing tickets, the weather which no man can control, the weakness of the body and the weariness of travel. Remember this word, what time I am afraid I will trust in Thee. Fear dishonors God, but trust honors Him. When you cannot see the way, you are to do the right thing that lies before you and then be no longer anxious about it, but leave the result with God. He who has been with you in sickness and in health, in hard days and in weary nights, will not leave you now.
Do not think that every difficulty is a sign that God is against you. The way may be weary and thorny, but how can we falter when our help is in God. He raises the fallen, He cheers the faint, the weak and oppressed He will hear when they cry. Your desire is not for mere pleasure, but that your husband who works hard and needs rest may see the love and favour of God in this journey, that it may be a turning point for his soul. That is a holy desire, and we may well ask the Lord to use even the provision of daily bread, the ordering of steps, the giving of strength, to show His kindness.
So labour to get rid of fear as much as possible, not by looking inward, but by looking to Immanuel, God with us. Till God in human flesh we see, our thoughts no comfort find, but when we see that Jesus who is God is man also, who was born and lived and died as we do, all slavish fear is forbidden and His grace removes our sins. If God be for us and with us, whom shall we fear.
We will pray with you and for you.
Our Heavenly Father, we come before Thee in the name of Jesus Christ Thy Son, through whom alone we have access and salvation. We thank Thee that we may cast all our care upon Thee for Thou carest for us. We lift before Thee this dear sister and her husband. Thou knowest their bodies, their sickness at times, their weariness, and Thou knowest the needs of the bowels and the need for energy and health. Lord, grant them mercy and grace for this journey. We ask for Thy favour in securing what is needed, for safe passage, for seasonable weather according to Thy wisdom, for strength for each step of travel, and for protection from harm. Above all, let them see Thy hand, that this trip may not add to a record of disappointment but may be a testimony of Thy love and Thy faithfulness. Help them to fear not, to stand still and see the salvation of God, to trust Thee when they are afraid. Let perfect love cast out fear, and let them rejoice in hope of Thy glory. Keep them in fellowship with Thee each day, and let Thy peace which passes all understanding guard their hearts. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
