by Emily Wooten
“Set your house in order, for you are going to die.” In Isaiah 38, we see a human faced with some of the worst news a person can receive: Hezekiah was sick unto death. What happened next is surprising. After receiving the message from God that his time was up, Hezekiah didn’t go find his neighbors and complain. He didn’t start making funeral arrangements.
In verses 2–3 we read: “Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord, and said, ‘Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.’”
Scripture says he wept sorely. Can you imagine Hezekiah, torn inside with grief? In anguish, he turned to God his Father—the God whom he recognized as Deliverer, Champion, and the Salvation of Israel. He didn’t accuse God, and he didn’t accept the diagnosis as the final authority. He asked God for mercy, and God heard him. He really heard him. Hezekiah sought the Lord; He heard and answered him.
Maybe you or someone you love is facing challenges. If we learn anything from Hezekiah’s story, it should be that we can turn to our Father and expect change.
Hebrews 4:14–16: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Paul told us to come to that throne, where Jesus, the Son of God, is making intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Matthew 11:28–30: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
We have an open invitation to come to the maker of solutions, the Creator who knows the end from the beginning.
John 15:7: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Psalms 103:1–5:“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
There it is! God has the capacity to redeem our lives from destruction. Knowing God in an intimate and personal relationship is very important if we expect to receive anything from Him. We can choose to acknowledge God as Savior, Healer, and Deliverer, and speak the words He gave us, knowing the peace and confidence only He can give.