“Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. The Lord said, ‘Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress?..’
Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:10-11,16
“They went to a place called Gethsemane. And [Jesus] said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’” Mark 14:32
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” John 18:15
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God...
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Romans 8:26-27,31-34
In the deepest despair, Jeremiah took great comfort in the Lord’s reminder that He was nigh in every distress and trouble, pleading for His beloved weeping prophet. That promise was to him a balm, a joy, a substantive delight to his heart and deep satisfaction to his soul. God’s intercession sustained him. The Scriptures give many an illustration of the Lord pleading before His Father for His children, all intended to buoy hope and the courage to endure.
There are not many peaceful days or seasons that hold no storm clouds. Life may be humming along, but in any journey of obedience to the Lord, we encounter trouble, set-backs, rejection, disappointments, hurt. The lovely reflection of Jesus in any time is the sure knowledge that He is present, omniscient, and praying for us. Indeed, if this is true, why should we fret?
What dangers alarm? What hard situations unsettle? What strife or difficult issues weigh heavy? Remember the Lord’s word! His promises are true! He is constantly with me and before the throne, the Trinity on my side, hemming in, upholding, leading forward. Will I take Him at His word and rejoice? What particular problems, doubts, fears, regrets can I leave with Him today? (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 139:5; John 17:6-17)
When we encounter outside threats, bad news, or relational turmoil, we need not be unsettled. The Lord, He knows! Take comfort, take courage! He is ever, always, incessantly, praying perfectly for us. (Luke 22:32)
Lord, thank You for pleading for me. May I trust Your intercession and will to keep on in every circumstance with joy, and praise to you.
As the rain and snow 