Omnipresent God, You are the God who constantly cares for she, that You help my friend who received a heavy text message yesterday morning. This message carries the pain of a deeply moment -just to name a few. the feeling of being surrounded by uncertainty, and the real weight of questions that have no immediate answers. The mind becomes restless in the face of the unknown - health, finances, the future of one's children, job stability. And when everything seems to slip through our hands, even the simplest path becomes obscure. The heart silently asks, what if? - Perhaps You know that place of waiting. A place where we pray for one, one life, one breath, one good piece of news that might bring relief, even if only for a moment. Maybe our prayers are for one fragile family bond, for one diagnosis that could change everything or for one positive number in a bank statement that guarantees one more month of peace. And even when we pray for many, it is usually for one that our heart aches most deeply. It's curious how the love for one person can stir our entire inner world.It is at this point that many things are revealed - not about the future, but about ourselves And in this space of self-awareness, we are reminded:
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other" ( Ephesians 4:32), "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" ( 1 Peter 4:9). And even though we don't have all the answers, the silent presence in the midst of waiting can remind us that even when everything seems lost, there is one moment - just one.
In answer to your question of whether I know of a situation that was too heavy for me, yes, I can.
In 2002 both my 12 year old son and my 14 year old son became very depressed. This was a most difficult year for me because I had never expected that such a matter as this would happen to my dear children. It was shocking to me and I did not know how to help them. I learned to entrust them even more so into the hands of God knowing that He alone works in their lives 24/7 and His love for them is far above how I could love them. I cried often during that time. It was a good thing to do, releasing much grief and sadness up to God. Both my sons continue to struggle with depression and anxiety even 23 years later. They both have turned from faith in God. I have prayed for them all these years.
Now, my youngest son is married to a Christian woman and they just began attending church again this year. I am so happy that God is bringing good into their lives. I continue to pray for a full transformation by the Holy Spirit in the lives of all three of my sons along with their wives (and a future wife for my middle son). I continue to pray for God to deliver them and heal them from mental illness. He knows all of the matter of how this came to be for them, how much of it is attributed to true physiological factors and how much is related to emotional factors, and mostly how much is related to spiritual factors. I believe that God can heal and deliver them in all factors that contribute to their current conditions. I do not have any power to do this but God does.
Experiencing this trauma 20+ years ago was very hard for me and the pain of it was so consuming. But through it all, God truly is working all things for the good in my life and in theirs. I trust that He will restore them all to faith and cause them to walk in His ways. Only He can do this, but I continue to pray because this is the obedience I am called to do in this case.
This topic has been coming to light more and more in recent years. I've become deeply interested in the relationship between parents and their children - especially when it comes to their spiritual walk. It's a delicate matter. The Old Testament is far from outdated - it's very much alive.
Today we see this reflected in the church, or even in the personal walk of believers who are close to God, trying to pass on a spiritual inheritance after years of faith and service. Many want to pass down mantles and vows made to God, believing that their children are automatically called to continue them. But the calling of God is personal, even if it is born in a consecrated environment.
Thinking about your concern, I don't have children yet - but I reflect on this often: have you presented your children to the Lord?If you did so while they were still young, may the flame never go out. If not, and they are now conscious adults, may they come to know that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life - and that they themselves are the altar.
Leviticus 6:13 - "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." 1 Corinthians 3:16 - "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" Romans 12:1 - "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
We must not allow family faith to become something temporary - full of empty tears and no revival. Faith must be cultivated with perseverance, sincere prayer, and intimacy with God.
Isaiah 29:13 - "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me..." Amos 5:23-24 - "Take away from me the noise of your songs... But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
May our love for Christ not be fake, like a trade for blessings, children, a spouse, a home, etc.
Spiritual legacy is not enforced through authority, but planted through love, consistency, and a life lived daily on the altar of intimacy with God.
Psalm 51:17 - "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
John 4:23-24 - "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..." Psalm 19:14 - "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord..."
Romans 12:11 - "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."
I know you already live this - and more than ever, I'm beginning to truly understand it too.May we be like songs that bring joy to His heart. May our hearts burn for Him.
As beautiful as a worship song may be, if there is no truth in the heart, it means nothing. As C.S. Lewis once said: "God doesn't want something from us. He wants us." It's not the well-crafted words that touch heaven, but the broken and sincere heart. The poet Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote: "He who loves God sincerely does not need to raise his voice, for heaven recognizes the silence of a surrendered heart."
Romans 12:9 - "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good."
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 - "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong..."
Matthew 15:8 - "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Many posts on social media say things like: "It's not enough to lift your hands - lift your soul too." Or: "God doesn't hear performance, He hears surrender." And that's the truth. The worship that pleases the Father doesn't come from musical technique or aesthetics, but from a real love that burns deep within. As Joan Osborne once sang: "Worship is not a sound - it's a life on fire." May our lives sing louder than our lips.
As for today's generation, it's important to understand that they were "configured" in a completely different world than the one that shaped our parents. Children today grow up connected - exposed to information, a variety of ideas, freedom of speech, and endless cultural references. This builds a more critical awareness, but it also leads to emotional overload, constant comparison, and early existential confusion. It's not simply rebellion or spiritual disinterest - it's a heart searching for rhythm in a noisy world.
While many parents were raised with quiet obedience and inherited faith, today's youth are looking for faith that is lived with meaning, not imposed. This isn't rejection - it's a thirst for authenticity. That's why parents who wish to pass on their faith need more than tradition - they need to be living testimonies. Sorry a long cont.
Reading a little and as the weeks go by, I realize that the Old Testament also contains experiences that resemble our current days. I want to place too much emphasis on these topics, however, as I've already mentioned in previous posts. In these days, when so many noises try to confuse us and distract us from the path, I've been reminded of Philippians 3:13-14. I remembered that this was how I came across that verse-I had been searching for the final verse from the women's conference, which is 2 Corinthians 12:10, but Google showed me Philippians instead. Sometimes, the noise around us blends with the noise inside us, and it becomes difficult to hear the right direction. If you remember me in your prayers, Like children, so that we may inherit Your house and live fully in Your grace, learning to live by faith, to grow, to be filled with the Lord, and to be emptied of the world. ( Acts 18).
Can you think of a situation or moment that felt too heavy to handle?
God bless you. Is there anything I can pray for you?
I can't thank You enough. No problem. The Bible tells us, "The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness" ( Psalm 41:3). I pray that we find comfort in His daily presence. Some days are better than others - and that's okay. In God's grace, even the hard days have meaning. The good days, I credit to Him and His endless blessings.
We are not promised that every day will be pain-free, but we are promised that God sees our pain and is with us ( Psalm 23:1-6). We don't need to lose hope in God while we wait for Him to heal us completely of our long-term illnesses. He comforts us through the bad days and alleviates our symptoms with moments of peace.
I'm praying for you too. I trust that He will be by your side, helping you through every stage of this illness - all the way to the end. You are not alone. He is faithful.
You are good, holy, and righteous, Lord, and I know You will never abandon me. I praise You, God. Amen.
Put on a hymn, dance, and sing - even if it's just with your arms, just to get started.
Thanks for the encouraging words. I am doing well, having recovered from the neck inflammation episode that began last Friday.
I hope to hear that your friend is fairing well despite the concerning news she received. I will continue to pray for her. Is there a way I can pray for you?
The Lord is with us, for us, and surrounds us with His grace, mercy, and love every day as we walk by the Holy Spirit in His way for us. Such an honor to be able to pray for so many on this forum.
I will be praying for your friend who is facing so much uncertainty due to the news she received. God sees, God hears, God answers. Praise the Lord for He is good!
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other" ( Ephesians 4:32), "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" ( 1 Peter 4:9). And even though we don't have all the answers, the silent presence in the midst of waiting can remind us that even when everything seems lost, there is one moment - just one.
I hope today finds you well.
In answer to your question of whether I know of a situation that was too heavy for me, yes, I can.
In 2002 both my 12 year old son and my 14 year old son became very depressed. This was a most difficult year for me because I had never expected that such a matter as this would happen to my dear children. It was shocking to me and I did not know how to help them. I learned to entrust them even more so into the hands of God knowing that He alone works in their lives 24/7 and His love for them is far above how I could love them. I cried often during that time. It was a good thing to do, releasing much grief and sadness up to God. Both my sons continue to struggle with depression and anxiety even 23 years later. They both have turned from faith in God. I have prayed for them all these years.
Now, my youngest son is married to a Christian woman and they just began attending church again this year. I am so happy that God is bringing good into their lives. I continue to pray for a full transformation by the Holy Spirit in the lives of all three of my sons along with their wives (and a future wife for my middle son). I continue to pray for God to deliver them and heal them from mental illness. He knows all of the matter of how this came to be for them, how much of it is attributed to true physiological factors and how much is related to emotional factors, and mostly how much is related to spiritual factors. I believe that God can heal and deliver them in all factors that contribute to their current conditions. I do not have any power to do this but God does.
Experiencing this trauma 20+ years ago was very hard for me and the pain of it was so consuming. But through it all, God truly is working all things for the good in my life and in theirs. I trust that He will restore them all to faith and cause them to walk in His ways. Only He can do this, but I continue to pray because this is the obedience I am called to do in this case.
This topic has been coming to light more and more in recent years. I've become deeply interested in the relationship between parents and their children - especially when it comes to their spiritual walk. It's a delicate matter. The Old Testament is far from outdated - it's very much alive.
Today we see this reflected in the church, or even in the personal walk of believers who are close to God, trying to pass on a spiritual inheritance after years of faith and service. Many want to pass down mantles and vows made to God, believing that their children are automatically called to continue them. But the calling of God is personal, even if it is born in a consecrated environment.
Thinking about your concern, I don't have children yet - but I reflect on this often: have you presented your children to the Lord?If you did so while they were still young, may the flame never go out. If not, and they are now conscious adults, may they come to know that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life - and that they themselves are the altar.
Leviticus 6:13 - "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." 1 Corinthians 3:16 - "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" Romans 12:1 - "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
We must not allow family faith to become something temporary - full of empty tears and no revival. Faith must be cultivated with perseverance, sincere prayer, and intimacy with God.
Isaiah 29:13 - "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me..." Amos 5:23-24 - "Take away from me the noise of your songs... But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
May our love for Christ not be fake, like a trade for blessings, children, a spouse, a home, etc.
Continued
Psalm 51:17 - "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
John 4:23-24 - "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..." Psalm 19:14 - "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord..."
Romans 12:11 - "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."
I know you already live this - and more than ever, I'm beginning to truly understand it too.May we be like songs that bring joy to His heart. May our hearts burn for Him.
I love you in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:9 - "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good."
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 - "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong..."
Matthew 15:8 - "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Many posts on social media say things like: "It's not enough to lift your hands - lift your soul too." Or: "God doesn't hear performance, He hears surrender." And that's the truth. The worship that pleases the Father doesn't come from musical technique or aesthetics, but from a real love that burns deep within. As Joan Osborne once sang: "Worship is not a sound - it's a life on fire." May our lives sing louder than our lips.
As for today's generation, it's important to understand that they were "configured" in a completely different world than the one that shaped our parents. Children today grow up connected - exposed to information, a variety of ideas, freedom of speech, and endless cultural references. This builds a more critical awareness, but it also leads to emotional overload, constant comparison, and early existential confusion. It's not simply rebellion or spiritual disinterest - it's a heart searching for rhythm in a noisy world.
While many parents were raised with quiet obedience and inherited faith, today's youth are looking for faith that is lived with meaning, not imposed. This isn't rejection - it's a thirst for authenticity. That's why parents who wish to pass on their faith need more than tradition - they need to be living testimonies. Sorry a long cont.
Reading a little and as the weeks go by, I realize that the Old Testament also contains experiences that resemble our current days. I want to place too much emphasis on these topics, however, as I've already mentioned in previous posts. In these days, when so many noises try to confuse us and distract us from the path, I've been reminded of Philippians 3:13-14. I remembered that this was how I came across that verse-I had been searching for the final verse from the women's conference, which is 2 Corinthians 12:10, but Google showed me Philippians instead. Sometimes, the noise around us blends with the noise inside us, and it becomes difficult to hear the right direction. If you remember me in your prayers, Like children, so that we may inherit Your house and live fully in Your grace, learning to live by faith, to grow, to be filled with the Lord, and to be emptied of the world. ( Acts 18).
Can you think of a situation or moment that felt too heavy to handle?
God bless you. Is there anything I can pray for you?
I can't thank You enough. No problem. The Bible tells us, "The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness" ( Psalm 41:3). I pray that we find comfort in His daily presence. Some days are better than others - and that's okay. In God's grace, even the hard days have meaning. The good days, I credit to Him and His endless blessings.
We are not promised that every day will be pain-free, but we are promised that God sees our pain and is with us ( Psalm 23:1-6). We don't need to lose hope in God while we wait for Him to heal us completely of our long-term illnesses. He comforts us through the bad days and alleviates our symptoms with moments of peace.
I'm praying for you too. I trust that He will be by your side, helping you through every stage of this illness - all the way to the end. You are not alone. He is faithful.
You are good, holy, and righteous, Lord, and I know You will never abandon me. I praise You, God. Amen.
Put on a hymn, dance, and sing - even if it's just with your arms, just to get started.
Thanks for the encouraging words. I am doing well, having recovered from the neck inflammation episode that began last Friday.
I hope to hear that your friend is fairing well despite the concerning news she received. I will continue to pray for her. Is there a way I can pray for you?
The Lord is with us, for us, and surrounds us with His grace, mercy, and love every day as we walk by the Holy Spirit in His way for us. Such an honor to be able to pray for so many on this forum.
I will be praying for your friend who is facing so much uncertainty due to the news she received. God sees, God hears, God answers. Praise the Lord for He is good!
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?