Words of Hope: Great Challenge Paves the Way for a Great Encounter
One of my friends says a powerful prayer when something difficult or challenging happens in her life or in the lives of those she prays for.
When she experiences a hardship or challenge, she immediately prays that this great struggle will result in a great encounter with God.
I think of this as I pray for the couple I met in the London airport. He is a pastor. They said they have been married seven years but have no children. He then immediately asked if we would pray for them to have children. I was surprised by how quickly he asked for prayer. It felt very sincere and heartfelt, and I felt thankful to pray for their need. I felt thankful for their honest request that was so earnest and humble.
I have their names in my prayer journal, and I ask that God would bring a profound encounter in this difficult time. Elizabeth received a profound encounter in her suffering with the visitation of the Angel. Moses received a divine encounter through the burning bush. Paul received a divine encounter on the road to Damascus.
Elizabeth knew she was suffering. Moses was a response to the great suffering of an entire nation. Paul was a response to the great suffering of the followers of Christ. All these stories are about small and large groups of people crying out to God for deliverance. Suffering and struggle met by a miraculous encounter.
Perhaps you are in a time of suffering or know people who are suffering, who are crying out for deliverance. We can pray with confidence for this great difficulty to be met with a great encounter as we turn our faith to the miracle Maker.
“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” – Acts 9:1-4
