Overcoming Struggles with Faith, the Word, and the Prayer Language: A Spiritual Journey

Overcoming Struggles with Faith, the Word, and the Prayer Language: A Spiritual Journey

March 6

Amidst a tranquil moment of meditation and spiritual reflection, I found myself engrossed in the teachings of Rick Renner, particularly his insightful interpretation of Romans 8:14. This verse, as Renner illuminated, emphasizes the profound truth that those who are led by the Spirit of God are indeed His children.

Renner delves into the significance of the term "led," tracing its origin to the Greek word "ago," which not only denotes guidance but also evokes images of wrestling and intense struggle. This analogy resonates deeply with the human experience, illustrating the inner conflict between our fleshly desires and the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. The journey of faith often mirrors this struggle, particularly in the face of adversity and illness. Contemplating on the daunting reality of illness, like cancer, I grappled with the tension between the promises of God's healing and the relentless assault of pain and suffering.

Drawing parallels from the creation narrative in Genesis, I perceived the chaos of illness as akin to the formless void and darkness described in the primordial earth. Cancer, with its rampant proliferation and destructive tendencies, seemed to embody this darkness, threatening to overwhelm with despair and hopelessness. Yet, amidst this turmoil, the Holy Spirit hovers or moves over the confusion, seeking to bring order and light into the darkness. Just as God separated light from darkness in the Genesis account, the Spirit endeavors to illuminate our path with the radiant truth of God's Word even in a devastating sickness like cancer.

The essence of faith lies in the unwavering conviction that God's promises transcend the limitations of human understanding. Despite the overwhelming reality of pain and suffering, we are called to anchor our faith in the immutable truth of God's healing power. In the face of adversity, we are challenged to speak life into the midst of death, echoing the words of Scripture and declaring victory over sickness and despair. Like the persistent faith of the Syrophoenician woman who dared to believe in the abundance of God's grace even in the midst of denial and ridicule (Matthew 15:21-28), we are called to defy the odds and claim the promises of healing and restoration.

Our prayers, infused with the power of the Holy Spirit echoing the Genesis account where He moved over the confusion, become a potent weapon against the forces of darkness and despair. Even in the midst of confusion and chaos, like the Genesis account, the use of our prayer language enables us to speak order into the mess we are confronted with, to usher in the transformative power of God's love and grace. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us fix our gaze upon the peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that God is faithful to fulfill His promises. In the midst of our struggles, may we find solace in the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit, guiding us into all truth and leading us into the abundant life that God has promised.

Ultimately, the journey of faith is marked by an unwavering trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God, even when circumstances seem bleak and insurmountable. In the words of Scripture, let us choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19-20), speaking, either through our understanding or our prayer language words of faith and hope into the midst of adversity, knowing that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21). As we continue on this journey of faith, coupled with our prayer language may we proclaim the profound truth that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37), that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39), and that In Christ we can overcome and destroy the works of the Devil like cancer (Revelation 11:12, 1 John 3:8).