Loss of Loved One
If you’re experiencing the pain of the loss of loved ones this Christmas, your Heavenly Father experiences your grief with you in the first person.
“He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted. . .to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion.” (Isaiah 61:1b, 2b)
“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:8)
Father, please send the Holy Spirit, and Your personal comfort, into the homes and hearts of all who are grieving. Comfort them with Your presence in tangible and unique ways. Bind up their hearts and anoint them with Your healing oil. Comfort them, provide for them, allow the tears to flow to the point of release, then wipe them away, as You carry their grief. Give them grace to process it gently and to heal. Renew their hope. Shepherd them through this valley.
Trouble in Family or Elsewhere
If you’re having trouble with family, or another trouble, that the holidays accentuate, your Heavenly Father carries it with you. Or, if the trouble is you cannot be with family—or are in lockdown–because of COVID, etc., it is also a distress.
“In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them.” (Isaiah 63:9)
Father, draw them close to Your side through the pain and tension of conflict. Assure them of Your heart of love, empathy, and compassion for them. Lighten their hearts with the oil of joy in Your Presence and light up their hearts with the knowledge of Your truth–that every trial has a beginning, a purpose, and an end. Grant them greater grace in this time. Uphold and sustain them with the pillar of Your strength.
Lack of Loving Family
If you’re experiencing the pain of the absence of a loving, nurturing family—for whatever reason—your Heavenly Father hurts with you.
“Surely he took up our pain, and bore our suffering.” (Isaiah 53:4)
“God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.” (Psalm 68:6)
Father, our families, and generations are in such a state of brokenness. Miraculously provide for these on all levels, as You deeply comfort their hearts. Grant greater grace to them on every level in the face of these times of greater sin. Bind up their broken hearts. Intervene in such a way that You provide grace after grace, mercy after mercy, of lovingkindness to the point that they know this could only be from Your hand and heart. And then do miracles by recreating their hearts and families in You! Restore families!
Weary and Worn
If you’re overworked and exhausted from life, trials, and battles + attempting to make the holidays special for others, your Heavenly Father knows and is ready to lift that load.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Father, the fields are ripe and the laborers few. The battles are intense. Bless and anoint their time and space with multiplication to pour back into their weary spirits, souls, and bodies. Give grace and room, supernaturally, for refreshing to flow to these. Lift off the burdens and trauma that they’ve faithfully carried for so many. Refresh and renew them in the night seasons as You draw them into the Heavenly Realms and speak life and hope to their hearts. Amaze them with Your goodness and light. Refresh and renew them in the day seasons as You evaporate their load of work, causing it to flow with ease, and grant them help as well. Refresh them. Multiply their time in unexpected ways and cause them to remember to take that time to fill up their own jars of oil (time with Holy Spirit).
Celebration
If you’re coming to celebrate, your Heavenly Father celebrates your joy and wants to shield it.
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)
“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:22)
Father, Your joy is our strength. Earthly joy is fragile. Please protect and grace the joy of individuals and families as they celebrate for this is a picture of Heaven on earth. Greater grace to them, Father, seal it with Your Holy Spirit and rearguard them with Your glory in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Hope Streams
Featured Image by Ich wünsche allen eine besinnliche Advents- und from Pixabay
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