Scripture

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Romans 5:3-5
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Isaiah 53:3-6
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

Reflection

Suffering takes on many forms – sickness, grief, pain, injustice, disaster, etc. – but we find comfort in the truths of the scriptures above. First, God cares deeply for those who are hurting. Second, God gives eternal meaning and purpose to our pain. Third, Jesus Himself entered into our suffering and experienced the deepest pain imaginable on our behalf. Let us keep these great truths in mind as we pray today.

Prayer

Pray for justice.
Pray for those who are suffering unjustly because of the sin of others. Many people around the world are enslaved. Many are refugees from war-torn nations. Closer to home, there are families being destroyed by abuse. Pray for God’s justice, and for the many noble organizations dedicated to rescuing the victims of injustice.

Pray for healing.
Pray for those who are sick, diseased, and disabled. Pray for those consumed with addiction. Pray for those deep in mental or emotional ailments. Pray for healing grace and hope for those who live in pain. Most of us know someone in need of healing, so pray for them by name as well.

Pray for hope.
Pray for those who are suffering to find their ultimate hope in Jesus. Pray that God will also grant them physical, tangible grace to relieve their pain. Pray for ways that you can minister to specific people that are in the midst of deep hurt.