Imagine you are about to set out on a long hike. You’ve been hiking before, but never quite this long. “It’s ok” you might think. Even though this journey is longer than all the others, all you have to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other. No one is around to measure your speed, and you have no time limit. You have a map. Even though you’ve never traveled this exact route before, you’ve traveled many just like it. All you have to do is keep moving step by step in the right direction.
This would be intimidating for many people, but many others would enjoy the challenge.
You get started.
After the first hour or so, you sprain your ankle. It hurts, but you can still continue. You know the ankle isn’t broken, and even though it hurts every step, you’ve had a similar injury before.
A little while later, you notice that your backpack has gotten very heavy. You didn’t see anyone add to it, but it seems heavier than ever before. No matter how hard you try, it’s stuck to you. You can’t seem to get the backpack off to inspect it and lighten the load.
The backpack weight is making your ankle hurt even worse. At just this moment you slip and sprain your other ankle.
What do you do? Quit? But you’re in the middle of the journey. Do you go back and lose all progress?
Does this feel like your life right now? Do you feel like you’re in the middle of a journey that keeps getting worse?
Have you ever felt like you SHOULD know what to do, where to go, and how to lighten the load, but you just can’t do it this time?
Life can be like this some time. It is a long journey. However, the journey that you’re on now isn’t too different from others. Some have taller hills to climb, some have worse terrain.
It seems like everything would be ok if it weren’t for the pain and the weight you’re carrying.
If you’re feeling alone, in pain, and carrying a weight that is too heavy for you, you need God’s help. God is with you every step of the journey. He is the ultimate healer, and He can carry any load. Go to Him in prayer to give you healing and strength.
Here are three prayers for healing and strength. Pray them when your journey seems long. Pray them when your load is heavy and you’re tired. Pray them when you’re broken and needing healing in both body and spirit.
Dear Heavenly Father, my soul is broken and my heart is weak. Fear is surrounding me and my relationships are struggling. Please heal me, inside and out. Give me the strength to continue in spite of fear. Please heal my body, but also heal my heart. Help me to love others again. Be with me as I encounter temptation, so I can make the right decisions. In Jesus’ name, amen.Healer, Teacher, Creator God, please bring healing on me. Please heal wounds, hurts, and pains. But also please heal those closest to me. I know about some of the concerns, but I know God that you know them all. I lift up myself and my loved ones to you for healing. Please heal us and give us strength. Help us to be strong at work, at home, and with others. I pray this all in Jesus’ name, amen.Blessed Father, be with me in this tough time. God I feel like troubles and fear are circling me and there is nowhere else to go except to you. God I know you are with me and you are in control of all circumstances. I ask for you to please bring healing on my circumstances. Be with me as I go through it day to day. Please give me the strength each moment to keep marching forward. Give me guidance, healing, and strength Lord. Amen.