Have you ever felt like your prayers are not getting through to God? I can think of seasons of my life when I felt like I was wrestling in prayer without any obvious results. (Although there were many results I did not notice.) Those can be discouraging times. It reminds me of the story of King Hezekiah back in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings. There was a point in time when he became very sick and was nearing death. During that time a prophet told Hezekiah that he would in fact die very soon.
“Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord.” 2 Kings 20:2
Finding calm in life can be nearly impossible, but in Jesus Christ pain turns to hope.
What do you think is going through Hezekiah’s mind as he prays to the Lord? We know that he is very sad because the next verse tells us he wept bitterly. Have you ever been in this place? Have you ever felt like you were going to be getting bad news as you sat in the doctor’s office? Have you ever wondered what life is really all about and how the pain fits into that? It is completely normal for us to feel remorse in these situations and to weep before God while there. But when we look back at the story of Hezekiah, we really should receive hope in our situation. Isaiah, the prophet, hears from the Lord to go back to Hezekiah with a new message.
“I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.” 2 Kings 20:5b
Do you long to hear those words? Are you hoping that there is some sort of breakthrough in your life? Have you found yourself wishing that God would miraculously answer your prayer? The incredible part of this story is that it interweaves with all of our stories. When Jesus Christ came as the Savior, He came as our Healer. Yes, there is physical healing involved in that, but that isn’t all of it. Jesus came to heal our souls so that we would be able to live forever with Him. He came to take what had been destroyed by sin and restore it to wholeness again. He has heard the prayer of mankind and declared “I will heal you.”
This healing goes far beyond the pains we experience on a daily basis. This healing makes us right with God and satisfies the payment for our sin that must be paid. Yes, Jesus is looking at you when He says “I will heal you.” Do you want that? If so, embrace Him today. Admit that you need Him because you are a sinner and your soul needs to be well. Be willing to turn from your sins and turn to Jesus. Believe that Jesus Christ dies for you on the cross and rose from the grave. Place your complete trust in the work of Jesus Christ on your behalf. Be healed from that burden of sin.
Hear this for you today as you trust in Jesus Christ: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.”
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