Friday Devotion and Prayer. April 21, 2023
“ Pray During a Setback”
“ Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” – Zechariah 4:6
A setback can threaten our thought life to believe the progress was a mirage. Setbacks make it seem like God isn’t listening, isn’t there, or doesn’t care. The verse from Zechariah reminds us of our weaknesses…and God’s strength. Setbacks are hard. But they aren’t permanent. Jesus is in it with us, compassionate towards our pain. For those experiencing a setback today.
Heavenly Father,
Today, we feel stuck …setback …and discouraged. We come to You, perhaps without words at all, to describe our desperate need for You. God, You are faithful, full of mercy, and compassionate towards us. When we hurt, we do so alongside a Savior who understands how we feel and is sympathetic to our pain. Oh, God, thank You for the friend we have in Jesus. We are a mess today, Father. Yet, You see us as the beautiful creation You knit inside our mother’s womb, with a specific purpose and unique gifts. The perfect Father, You are there for us in every way. Provider, Healer, and Defender, You love us fiercely. You are jealous for us!
God, though setbacks aren’t pleasant, we know You will pull us through them. Even though this one feels like it might take us out, we put our confidence in You. We choose to sit at Your feet and cry out in desperation, to the only One who perfectly and completely understands our souls and cares for our hearts. Father, repentance is hard. Hurt is hard. Pain which happens to us, and pain that we lump upon ourselves …is hard. Please soften our stubborn hearts as we sit and weep at Your feet, desperate for direction and hurting for encouragement. Help us to hear You, remember who You are, and Whose we are.
Father, place Your word in our hearts and write it on our minds. For Your word is alive and powerful. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
You know us, fully. Lift our spirits and restore our hope, God, to see this setback for what it is …temporary. Help us to confidently trust You, and cling to the Hope we have in Christ Jesus. You promised us a difficult journey on earth, but You also promised a full life. Full of joy, peace, contentment, forgiveness, and love. Help us to embrace You as You bring us back to the place of progress. In Your son Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
