Prayer

I urge you, first of all,
to pray for all people.
Ask God to help them;
Intercede on their behalf,
and give thanks for them.
1 TIMOTHY 2:1 (NLT)



When those we love are suffering, we often feel helpless and wish we could do more to help. The good news is, we can. We can pray.


Prayers for a suffering friend are an incredible gift of love. Illness and its accompanying exhaustion, mind-fogging medications and weariness of soul can make it difficult for those who suffer to pray for themselves. What a great encouragement it is to know that someone is praying for your needs when you are incapable of praying for yourself!


Those who suffer can oftentimes sense when others are praying for them. Just knowing that someone else is praying sends a powerful message of love, concern and sacrifice. And best of all, when we pray for someone, we have lifted up their needs to the One who can best meet them … and who can give us His peace in the process.



The Lord hears His people
when they call to Him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
PSALM 34:17 (NLT)

On the journey with you,
Dave Dravecky

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Purpose in Suffering?, Words of Endurance

We can rejoice, too,
when we run into problems and trials,
for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character,
and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
And this hope will not lead to disappointment.
ROMANS 5:3-5 (NLT)



The connection between pain and spiritual strength is made repeatedly in Scripture. It is no accident, for example, that the wonder words “strong, firm and steadfast” in 1 Peter 5:10 appear in the context of “after you have suffered a little while.”


God’s indispensable means of making us strong – whether physically or spiritually – is suffering. We may not like it, we may fight it, and we may try to squirm away from it, but it’s a fact – immovable, unwavering and rock solid.



And the God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you and
make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 PETER 5:10 (NIV)



On the journey with you,
Jan & Dave Dravecky

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