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If you’ve never asked how you can pray when suffering before, I have a prediction: someday you will. Life has a way of getting us down to the point where we can’t hardly even pray when suffering. We get too exhausted, we’re in too much pain, and we’re too overwhelmed to pray.
Jesus Himself almost got to this point. While hanging on the cross He prayed simply “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)
So in response to this question asked by one of my listeners, I share in this podcast 7 ways we should pray when suffering.
Some of them might surprise you. For example, #6 is that we should pray “Frankly.” I reference Psalm 88 which is one of the frankest and most depressing passages in the entire Bible in my opinion.
“I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors. Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely. You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.” (Psalm 88:15-18 NLT)
Wow, what desperate frankness!
Please listen to this podcast to learn all 7 ways to pray when suffering.
Here are a few of the other verses I reference in this podcast:
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 ESV)
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (Corinthians 12:8-10 ESV)
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV)
For more help with overcoming grief, depression and suffering, check out my articles and podcasts on:
Podcast Is it OK to be angry with God?
Podcast Why Aren’t My Prayers Answered?
For help answering the question of why God allows suffering and pain(theodicy) see these resources:
3 Trees That Explain Suffering (a series of 3 articles)
Podcast Is it OK to be angry with God?
Podcast Why Aren’t My Prayers Answered?
To learn more about this podcast and how to submit questions, click HERE.
For help:
To receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord click HERE.
To develop your relationship with God, get my free eBook “10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth” click HERE.
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