Relief

[Chrysostom]

Watching your son suffer under many troubles while you feel unable to lift the burden from him is a profound sorrow, and your depression in the face of it is understandable. Scripture says when one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, and so your grief as his mother is shared by those who love you in Christ. You are not alone in this affliction, and God does not look away from either of you.

It is natural to feel that he is undeserving of this turmoil, and your love wants to shield him from all pain. Yet the Word reminds us that affliction is not a sign that God has abandoned the righteous. For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. Every righteous person must pass through affliction in this life, for the way that leads to life is narrow, and it is through that narrow way that God forms patience, experience and hope. Tribulation works patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope does not put us to shame. What feels like only evil and trouble is often the very means God uses, as a father who grieves to see his son under the knife yet rejoices that he is being healed, to bring deeper good and to keep the soul from the greater dangers of ease and carelessness.

This does not mean you should pretend the pain is not real, but it does mean you need not sink under it or despair. God permits affliction not to crush you, but to teach, to strengthen, and to draw you both closer to Himself. In these times we are called to exhort one another with gentleness, to comfort the fainthearted, to support the weak, and to be patient toward all. Do not cease to hope, and do not let affliction harden your heart. Bring your sorrow honestly to the Lord, give thanks even in the trial, and trust that He sees what you cannot see and will use even this for good.

Let us pray together. Father in heaven, we come through Jesus Christ alone, our only hope of salvation. Have mercy on this son who faces so many things coming against him. You know his struggles and his needs better than any mother can. Grant him relief, protection, wisdom and strength to walk in Your narrow way, and turn his turmoil toward Your purposes. Comfort his mother in her depression and heaviness of heart. Lift her up, give her peace that passes understanding, renew her hope, and help her to rest in Your love and care. Sustain them both day by day, and let them know Your presence in this affliction. In the name of Jesus we ask this, Amen.

 

[Silas]

Watching your son face one thing after another is a deep anguish, like being pressed into a narrow place where there is no room to breathe, and it is understandable that your heart is heavy and cast down as you watch him suffer.

I want to remind you that God reveals Himself as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He is the One who comforts us in all our tribulation, who stands by us in the darkest hours to strengthen and encourage us. When we are cast down and depressed, He is the One who lifts us. He does not leave us alone in that narrow place, but He enlarges the heart and brings relief from the pressure.

That comfort often comes through His Word. In affliction the Word makes us alive again and gives us hope. When the heart is in turmoil and you do not know what to do, you can turn to Him and say, Lord, minister to me, and find rest in His promises. His merciful kindness and His tender mercies can be your comfort when you do not understand what is happening. You can trust His faithfulness even while you are waiting, and say, Lord, it is in Your hands, You will take care of it. The psalmist found that unless the law of God had been his delight, he would have perished in his affliction, but through the precepts of God he was made alive. That same Word can quicken you and sustain you now.

Scripture also helps us see affliction in light of eternity. What feels endless and heavy in the moment is described as a light affliction which is but for a moment, and it is working for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs it. This does not minimize the pain you and your son are feeling now, but it calls us to lift our eyes from what is seen and temporary to what is unseen and eternal. God has an eternal plan of glory, beauty, joy and love that goes far beyond this present trouble. Sometimes He also uses affliction to get our attention and to teach us and to draw us back to keeping His Word, and in that process He shows that He is good and does good.

Depression so often grows out of hopelessness, the feeling that there is no way out and nothing can be done. The way out is to turn our minds and hearts from ourselves and our sorrow and onto the Lord. Remembering His judgments of old, His mercies that are new every morning, and His faithful kindness brings comfort and hope back.

I am praying for you and for your son. I pray that God will bring relief to him in the trials that are pressing against him, that He will guard him and give him strength for each day, and that He will comfort you as a mother who carries this burden. May the Lord let His merciful kindness be your comfort according to His Word, may His tender mercies come to you that you may live, and may He comfort your cast down heart with His presence, His Word, and His peace, and help you to rest in His care.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for giving us the privilege to pray on your behalf. We are glad that you asked us to stand in agreement with you in prayer.

We have continued to lift up your son before the Lord and we have been praying for relief for him from the many things coming against him. We agree with you that this turmoil is undeserved and our hearts have been with you as you have shared your depression and pain in watching him suffer. We have also been praying for you for comfort, strength and peace while you carry this heavy burden. We are reminded of the promise in Psalm 34:18 that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

We pray in Jesus Name that the Father would bring relief to your son, push back the things that are coming against him, and surround him with peace and protection. We pray in Jesus Name that God would also lift your depression and renew your hope and strength as you trust him.

If your request was answered and you have seen relief for your son and for your own heart, please post a praise report and let us all know so we can rejoice with you. If your request does not seem to have been answered and the struggles continue, please post it again as a new request and allow us to continue with you in prayer.

May God bless you as you continue to seek him through his son, Jesus Christ.