Sometimes We Miss The Scars...

Jesus said to him, “If[] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” This poem began the other day, when, after listeningto 'her' frustrations, sorrows and challenges, all I could think of to say was,'I will pray for you'.As I pondered that promise I was a shamed to have wishedI could offer something more profound! SO much to pray for, always!! So much to author awed worship and so much to kindle humble pleasfor God's leading, comfort, wisdom and provision, spiritually, emotionally and physically!We pray for those who are striving to be faithful followers of Jesus,for those who have wandered astray,for those who have never put their faith in Christ(and the finished work of Calvary.)We pray for the poor, the downcast,for those who mourn, for those in war-torn countries,for the shut-in, and the shut out.We pray for teachers and preachers,students and school bus drivers.We pray for strength for the day and rest at night.For young, exhausted parentsand for those who long to be parents and are not...We pray for the elderly, the lonely,the sick and the prisoner...The tempted and the fallen,etc.' (or what feels like His silence)and sometimes the reason we question Him is becausewe miss the scars on His hands (and who/what put them there) How often we find ourselves echoing those words of old; “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Sometimes we miss the scars on hands we place our cares intoWhen kindness grasps at strands, and utters ‘I will pray for you’But, this is no ‘when-all-else-fails, last-resort song-and-danceNo, this is to God, who prevails in spite of circumstanceHis are the hands that wore the nails that bore deliverance This is no consolation prize we offer casuallyNo secondary compromise of pious empathyWhen we say ‘I will pray for you’ what sacred words we speakWhen we pause to consider who hears the favors we seekWhose ways are trustworthy and true; Whose strength uplifts the weak/meek When we say ‘I will pray for you’ we relinquish controlAnd touch Him, The One who loves us so, who gave His Son, once and for allTo pay sin’s debt we owed, to break the curse wrought at The FallWhen we say I will pray for you’ it is on Him we call Sometimes we miss the scars on hands outstretched to help us throughWhen desperation grasps at strands, with ‘I will pray for you’But as we enter faith’s hushed courts, when creature cares besetAnd trust the hands no hurtle thwarts and no ‘Unknown’ can fretThen suddenly we see the scars that sometimes we forget © Janet Martin Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.