The Consolation of Prayer
1. “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young—your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God! Happy they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you.” (Ps. 83:1-5)
It is in these colourful words that the Psalmist expresses his longing for the house of God, where he can retire to pray and find comfort for his soul. The Saints also found happiness in long hours of prayer before their Creator. Any consolation which the world can give us is shadowy and elusive compared with the peace which God gives those who, in the greatness of their faith and love, shut out all thought of earthly things in order to kneel before His tabernacle and converse with Him. If we need consolation, let us look for it before the altar. Only there will our unlimited desire for true and lasting peace find satisfaction.
2. We can gain strength and comfort from prayer especially when we are tempted and in danger of yielding to sin. God may not answer us immediately, because He may wish to try our faith and love. But if we persist and tell Jesus that we would die rather than offend Him, He will take pity on us. He will stretch out His hand as He did in the storm-tossed boat with the Apostles and over us also there will come “a great calm.” (Mt. 8:26; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24) Any sacrifice on our part is amply repaid by the peace which follows victory over temptation. Let us not be afraid. Let us pray, and God will console us.
3. There are moments when we are overcome by a very deep sadness. It may be an illness, the result of which could be death or inability to work. Perhaps it is an insult or calumny which has crushingly humiliated us. Or perhaps it is some sin into which we have fallen so seriously that we are close to despair. Somehow, our cross seems too heavy to bear. It is now that we are in special need of prayer. We can find peace and resignation. God is infinitely good and loves us with a fatherly love. Let us turn confidently to Him. If we pray with humility and perseverance, we shall be comforted.
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