1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
I was praying for a sister in the Lord this morning. I had already prayed for my wife and our own children. I had already prayed for others – brothers and sisters in the Lord — dear friends… and as I prayed for these, each became dearer to my heart.
I had prayed through the sufferings of my own adversities and also the more severe impending adversity of family members. I asked God to get them through it all. I remembered the encouragement my faithful mother had often given to me, my brothers and my sister as I thought of a mom so discouraged and concerned for the salvation of her own children.
Yes, God is also concerned for these; yet God will give it all the time required, while we struggle with the adversity of our daily life and adversity in the lives of our loved ones.
What peace God gives us though prayer. Peace in our own struggles and peace for our faithfulness in praying for loved ones.
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
Have you ever considered the comfort of Jesus, after having invested considerable, limited earthly time with twelve Apostles, calls them His friends? (John 15)
What a Friend we have in Jesus
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
Do you have a friend and brother who does not suffer adversity? Do you have a friend and sister who does not grieve over her children and afflictions of her family?
Pray for these.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you…
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
You are my brothers, my sisters, and friends — my family — family of our friend, Brother and Lord, Jesus.
Isaiah 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
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