O Lord, Make Haste

Yesterday Tom Kurtz, Joe Ryer and I were able to spend a little time with Ian and Mary. It is amazing to see the changes and improvements that God has worked in Ian in the last few weeks. I was thinking how challenging it must be for the Murphys and Larissa to persevere. In the natural, I thought, it looks like Ian's recovery will be a long slow process. Then this morning I read the following verse:

As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! Psalm 40:17 (ESV)

I was struck by two things. First of all, David says that though he is poor and needy, the Lord "takes thought" for him. What an amazing statement! The Lord of the universe, the Most High God, takes thought for us who are nothing but specks of dust. He sees us, knows us intimately, thinks about us, is sympathetic toward us. He thinks about us with tenderness, pity and love. He thinks about us continually; we are never out of our heavenly Father’s thoughts; we cannot number his thoughts toward us. He takes thought for us as we sleep and work and play. Even when we aren’t thinking of him, our loving God is thinking about us.

Ian is “poor and needy” right now, but the Lord takes thought for him. Jesus looks down from heaven and sees Ian in his bed and thinks of him with affection and love. He takes thought for Ian throughout the night as he sleeps and in those hours when no one is able to be with him. And as God is taking thought for Ian, so is he for the Murphys and Larissa.

The second thing that struck me was David's cry, "Do not delay, O my God!" Although God is sovereign and the timing of every answered prayer is up to him, God condescends to let us cry out, "Do not delay!" God lets us cry out, "Lord please answer this prayer now. Please don't put it off. Please answer me today."

In verse 13 David prays, “Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!” He is praying, "Lord, please deliver me now! Please do it soon!" Oh, let us cry out to our God who takes thought for Ian to not delay and to make haste in healing him. If God chooses to take some time, then by God's grace we will persevere. But I'm going to ask the Lord to make haste.

Lord Jesus, thank you that you take thought for Ian, the Murphys and Larissa. Lord Jesus, if it please you, heal Ian now. Would you do a mighty miracle today? Oh please make haste! Lord Jesus, do not delay. Thank you, Jesus!

Mark