Many years ago, a dear brother in Jesus Christ and close friend of mine, was in distress. He was dealing with a multitude of issues involving his health, the health problems of several of his family members, and family members with whom he was estranged because of his previous actions. After he informed me of these issues, he said he was going to take time to be alone with God. By nature, he was a loner and he refused to speak to anyone, including myself. In fact, he respectfully asked me not to contact him as he struggled with the many issues. About a month later, he contacted me and our mutual friends, thanking us for our prayers.
We trusted that God was working in his life and his family members. I, and others, prayed for him but we always ended our intercessory prayers with an uneasy feeling, wishing we could do more. The Bible records the story of a great saint who also needed to spend time alone with God. King David had arranged to murder the husband of the woman with whom he committed adultery and who was now pregnant with their child. David was confronted with his sins by Nathan, the prophet.
Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by doing this, your child will die.” After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife. David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.
2 Samuel 12:13-17 (NLT)
I can imagine the distress that filled the household of King David. What can we do for the King? How can we help him? Perhaps they assumed David was in prayer, but the Bible is silent about any conversations that may have transpired with his household. Yet, the Bible does record David’s conversation with God who was teaching and consoling him in a very personal way. David wrote about this time in Psalms 51.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you
Psalms 51:10-12 (NLT)
As frustrating as it was to keep our distance from our friend, we respected his wishes. We did not have conversations with him but we prayed that like King David, God was cleansing his heart and restoring the joy of His salvation through His Holy Spirit.
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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