2 Corinthians 11:28 Besides
everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
(NIV)
Like most pastors, I often
wake up in the middle of the night thinking about and worrying over people in
the congregation that I serve. I guess that other professionals – doctors,
teachers, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and counselors experience the
same kind of sleepless nights. Like them, I carry around in my heart and mind
the many circumstances, issues, and even secrets that the people under my care
have shared with me. At times those burdens are hard to carry, so at night I
sometimes lose sleep by worrying about the church folks.
The good thing about this
is that I also get some quiet time to pray for their situations. During the
day, there is a lot going on and finding a quiet place or a quiet time can be
hard to do. However, in the wee small hours of the morning, I can quietly come
to God to pray for the healing, help, or wholeness that people need. I can
whisper their names to God and ask for strength, guidance, and grace to be
given to them. Usually, when I have about finished my prayers, sleep begins to
drift over me, so I can return to my bed and get beneath the warm blankets to myself.
When I read today’s verse
from the Apostle Paul, the first thought that crossed my mind was ‘he gets it.’
We tend to think about Paul being a fearless preacher who faced many dangerous and
life-threatening moments in his ministry. But he was also a pastor who had a
heart for the people he met – this is why he writes of the daily pressure he
endures because of his concern for all of the churches that he cared about. I
believe that Paul, too, had some sleepless nights and quiet moments of prayer
for the church folks that he knew.
Maybe you’ve been waking
up at night because of family, work, school, or health issues. Perhaps you are
worried about money or concerned about the future. May I humbly suggest that
you use those sleepless times effectively by seeing them as sacred moments when
the Holy Spirit is calling you to pray? I think you’ll find an answer to your
problems and a much better sleep after praying.
Point to ponder
What concerns do I presently
have? When and where can I quietly pray about them?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, when
we have sleepless nights because of our current issues and prevailing worries,
help us to quietly turn to You in prayer. Enable us to share deep concerns with
You and to sincerely seek Your guidance and grace, strength and healing. In Your
Holy Name, we quietly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville,
Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You
will be made very welcome 😊
Today’s image is one of
John’s autumn drawings called ‘Fall Retreat.” If you would like to view a
larger version, please click this link: Retreat.
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