“Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.”
Luke 4:38
Picture the scene. When Jesus entered the home of Simon Peter and learned his mother-in-law was sick, the people made a beautiful and simple request. They asked Jesus to help her. No fanfare, no digging deep into the matter, no extended discussions and wondering if it was the will of God or not. Jesus was under their roof, and they knew He had the power to help a sick woman. And He did.
Sometimes it’s hard to know what or how to pray. Ken and I have felt that way lately. For several months, we have been praying nightly for a list of friends who have cancer. Some of the cases are pretty extensive, others look hopeful. Through it all, our friends are struggling through pain and disappointment. Often we don’t know how to pray, but we can’t go wrong following the lead of Luke 4:38, “Lord, help her.” It’s simple, to the point, direct and sincere. Jesus is under the roof in the homes of our friends, and we don’t have to dig deep into the matter or question God’s will.
There’s something else I like about that simple prayer, “Lord, help her.” It sums up our bewilderment. It describes how we’ve come to the end of our understanding and that we have nowhere or no one else to whom we can turn. To pray, “Lord, help her” is to have your focus on Jesus. Whether it’s healing in the here and now, or hope for the hereafter, there’s one thing utterly true of the Lord: “He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword” (Deuteronomy 33:29).
Jesus, I pray that You will be a help today to my friends or family members who are dealing with illnesses. I may not be certain how each sickness will turn out, but I know for sure You will shower Your help and hope today. So be it.
