Lord - I am afraid and feared.

Afflictions, be they spiritual, financial, health or whatever always give rise to fear.  It's natural, in our weakness and frailty to fear - especially when our sight is restricted and we can't see ahead.  We, certainly with help from the enemy, conjure all the worse case scenarios.

They haunt us and steal our peace.  they're divert us from the Word and prayer and all those blessings God provides to strengthen us and calm our hearts.  We are threatened by the possibility of drifting away from the only true source of life and hope.

But, in these times, we also come to realize that our afflictions give rise to fear in those around us.  Our testing, our refining  confronts those around us, I write of other believers, with their fears as well.  This has the common result of isolating us from the encouragement and comfort God desires us to have through them.  We miss being comforted with the comfort He comforts them with.

Their prayers are blessings, their hesitation to get intimately involved crushes us.  We are told of their prayers for us and some will pray with us but then they are gone and we are alone.  We are grateful for their prayers but we are none the less overwhelmed with a sense of abandonment, real or imagined.

We want our affliction to be, well, appreciated and acknowledged in all its sensed magnitude.  We want someone sometimes anyone, to share our pain and fear but apart from our loving Lord it seems a thing only to be wished for, ached for.   As I once heard a small child had said, "Sometimes we need Jesus with skin on."

Our Lord is utterly acquainted with all our griefs and yes, that is sufficient.  But I don't believe He intended to be the only one.  Too many verses enjoin us to share one another's burdens, to comfort one another, to be present with one another in affliction.  But, this is not common to our experience.

This is, I regret to say, because of their fear that they might become too intimately involved in the affliction.  Sadly, perhaps, they believe it will cost them too much.  Perhaps they fear they might "catch" the affliction.  Worst of all, it may be that they fear having to give up their comfort and that they do not believe they can do.

I am afraid and feared.  Like the woman in Mark who has to fight her way to Jesus merely to touch the hem of His garment, the afflicted are often prevented, by others, from getting close, from touching Him.  

Many of you face this struggle in you affliction.  It's tough and troubling.  But sometimes, as I think I am learning, He wants us to turn to and trust in Him alone.  We must not allow the deceiver to distract us by criticism of others - not even dismay about others - certainly not anger at others.  

In the garden we see Jesus in just this situation.   He takes His closest with them and they, so overcome with their own fears and fatigue - sleep.  Jesus is disappointed - I am sure He was dismayed and hurt.  But He understood their frailty and returned to the Father, the only hope and source that will not hinder, will not fear, will not sleep as we struggle in our afflictions and pain.

Father, keep my heart sweetly in You even in the fear and affliction.  Keep me from harsh thoughts of those who fear me and my need.  Help me - no, make me as understanding and compassionate as my Master.  Keep my mind and heart focused on You alone and let me be surprised by those You send to comfort and encourage me - for Your glory and my good in You.
Amen

Psalm 5 :11

Psalm 5:11 ESV

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy,and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.

Yes !!!!!!

Remember, this is a prayer (also an admonition).  This is a prayer we need to be praying for those we know who are in distress and even for those we don't know.  We all need to be lifting up the Body - often.

Joy and exultation can be hard for folks who are suffering - especially believers ;-}.
We know God is working, we know He has a purpose for all we experience and yet we still struggle to rejoice and exult.  

But maybe, as many of the Puritan writers suggest, we need to focus on our redemption more and our circumstances less.

Oh, I know that's hard to do and the distraction and anxiety of our worldly needs make it almost seem mean.  But I have to remember that redemption is the whole point of my relationship with Him.  It is the "bottom line."

We so want to be comfortable and healthy and solvent.  There's nothing inherently wrong with this unless it (as it does) intrudes upon and diverts us from His great salvation.  

I often remember Job's wanting to have never been born because of his afflictions.  I am very grateful that God included that in the book.  I draw from it a certain comfort and hope in that when I feel that way I know that God understands and appreciates my feeling that way.  

The Puritan writers consistently point out that the things of this earth are meaningless and a distraction.  But they also understand how difficulties and afflictions get our attention and hold it.  As I said the other day, "When I hit my thumb with a hammer it has my undivided attention!"

Somehow we need to call upon Him to give us the focus and discipline we need to rejoice and exult in our pain - I don't think we'll work it up on our own.  Nor do I think kindly meant platitudes are any help.

I spoke a very dear brother today and, well, he  "got" me.  He was sharing his stuggles (and he certainly has some) and he shared how he has found intercessory prayer to be a real means of joy and peace.  He "gets out of himself" and his circumstances and he even shared that he is assured of his redemption through calling out to God for others.

I realized that this is so true.  Although Paul was upheld by the hand of God I also think that he was joyful and could exult in his trials because he knew he was serving others (even us) in remaining faithful.  He prayed and prayed a lot for all the believers he knew, knew about or simply assumed would come in time.

Father, make me aware that my needs are in your keeping and care so I may pray for others.    Empower me to "get out of myself" and my needs and anxiety so I may bring my brothers and sisters before Your throne.  

Keep me from comparing needs and answers so I may humbly and heart-fully lift up OTHERS more than myself.   My pain is my pain but I have entrusted it all to you and others are bringing all of me before You.  Please make Your Spirit bold in and to me to get my eyes off of "me" and on to "them."

Make me keep in mind that my needs and pain are in Your hands and that I can most effectively await Your providence by bringing "their" needs and pain to You.  Cure my myopia, broaden my reach, expand my heart so that it is so full of care and compassion for others that I can faithfully lift them up.!!

Amen