Take Heart, Friend (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

Take Heart

Five years ago, I was privileged to be present on a night when a group of old friends gathered to pray for the healing of a brother in Christ.  The diagnosis was sobering — stage 4 lung cancer.

I will never forget that evening.   My precious friend stood in the center of the room surrounded by love as we cried out to God on his behalf.   We cried out to the One who is our Hope and Healer.

As we worshipped and prayed, the men broke into song and began to sing over our friend.  The song was new to me, but the words broke me.

Take heart my friend, we’ll go together
This uncertain road that lies ahead
Our faithful God has always gone before us
And He will lead the way once again

Take heart my friend, we can walk together
And if our burdens become too great
We can hold up and help one another
In God’s love, in God’s grace

Take heart my friend, the Lord is with us
As He has been all the days of our lives
Our assurance every morning
Our Defender in the night

If we should falter when trouble surrounds us
When the wind and the waves are wild and high
We will look away to Him who rules the waters
Who spoke His peace into the angry tide

He is our Comfort, our Sustainer
He is our Help in time of need
And when we wander He is our Shepherd
He who watches over us, never sleeps

Take heart my friend, the Lord is with us
As He has been all the days of our lives
Our assurance every morning
Our Defender in the night

Take heart my friend, the Lord is with us
As He has been all the days of our lives
Our assurance every morning
Our Defender in the night

In the Gospel of Matthew, friends bring a paralyzed man to Jesus, and our Healer responded by saying, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

What if  these men had not believed that their friend could walk again?   

Lord, help me to always pray and sing and believe on behalf of my friends who are in the valley.

Take heart tonight, my friends.  The Lord is with you.

Something to think about…

 

26 Comments

  1. Lyli, beautiful encouragement! I have been looking at the words “take courage” in Scripture so this truly struck a chord with me. May we always pray & believe, placing our faith in the One Who is always able! I am taking heart this morning. Thank you, Lyli.

  2. I have been struggling my way through the book of Job, wrenched by those “friends” of his who were only friends if everything was turning out all sweet and perfect. Reading this is refreshing. How good to have friends who will “walk together” no matter what the outcome. True friends. Beautiful words in that song.

  3. Hey Lyli … your words brought back the same image, a different time, a different place, a different man. My husband … maybe 30 years ago? Friends gathered round in a circle of chairs in the church gym, praying for their brother who’d been diagnosed with a disease that should have been with him for his life. A disease which simply vanished by the time his next doctor visit rolled around.

    Your recollections have sparked mine, my friend. A flow of gratitude has opened up … once again.

    And, sweet friend, please know that I’m praying for you right now as you continue to grieve …

  4. What a beautiful gift you all were able to give and receive in praying with and for your friend. That song is beautiful; I’ve never heard it.

    “Lord, help me to always pray and sing and believe on behalf of my friends who are in the valley.”
    Me, too. Thanks, Lyli.

  5. Oh Lyli, I am beyond encouraged by this post today! How heartening to my weary and mourning soul. Thank you for sharing this – I will pass it on.

    GOD BLESS!

  6. This was such a reminder of an evening while in Guatemala when we gathered together to pray for one of ladies traveling with us. She had to return home early and passed a few months later but it was a moment of praying and singing that I will never forget. God was surely present.
    Blessings to you today.
    (((hugs)))

  7. God meant for friendships to be just like that! People interceding, standing in the gap fighting when you cannot! Thank you for reminding us – ’cause that’s what God-friends do – remind of of what we already know and teach us what we do not! Thank you also for offering to be that friend!

    Maryleigh

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