Jubilee

A few weeks ago, I saw a sight I never want to see again. It was something that I saw merely because of the brokenness of this world and the sin that entered way back in the garden. It was heart-wrenching, yet at the same time a demonstration of immense strength and faith that Jesus has poured out onto his people.

What was this tear-inducing sight? A strong and God-fearing father carrying his baby girls tiny casket out from her memorial service.

Some of you have followed along with my friend Brittany (Sprinkles & Wrinkles) as she has blogged through her experiences of the last few years. She and her husband endured a miscarriage last summer and earlier this month had to bury their daughter who was born into Jesus arms the beginning of May.

I've known Brittany since her senior year in high school, and TJ since they started dating. I sang in their wedding. I have watched their dating relationship blossom into marriage and then into beginning their family with a healthy little boy a few years ago. Brittany has always had a gift with words...her blog demonstrates her witty and articulate gift of expression. I am so grateful to her for sharing her and TJ's journey over these last few years. It's amazing that when I met Brittany, I was one of the youth pastors at Sunshine and she was in high school. I'm pretty sure her faith and life have done more for me in my own walk than I could've ever done for her. I truly mean that.

At the memorial service, TJ & Brittany had little cards out that people could write encouraging words and more particularly, how Jubilee has made an impact on their lives and heart. It was an easy thing for me to write.

The point in time beginning with Brittany's 20 week ultra sound when they discovered that Jubliee was sick until now has been the strongest I think my prayer life has ever been. Jubilee's little life has had me on my knees more than ever. Prior to Jubliee, my prayer life was so-so. I prayed somewhat regularly, though I longed for a deeper passion for prayer and a belief in it's power. I had grown a bit apathetic and weary.
Along came Jubliee. How can you know of a dear friend going through something so unfathomable and NOT pray with a passion and sincere pleading of your heart?

I Chronicles

 ²⁰ They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.

I remember one night seeing Brittany's sister post something like, "Praying for my sister". I panicked. I thought Brittany was in labor or something was happening. I texted her immediately & told her I was praying and asked if things were okay. She was fine, sitting at home with her dear hubby. She did ask me to pray for her to be able to sleep well that night, as her nights had been a bit rough. I prayed. Oh, how I prayed. I think I almost needed an answer to that prayer as much as she did. Guess what? The next day she texted to let me know that she had slept better than she had in months. Whoa. The Lord was listening as he always does, but what an answer, what an example of the power of prayer, what a lesson in intercession.

Genesis 25:21
Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.

Then came our trip to the Dominican Republic. The Lord has certainly placed the theme of prayer so evidently in front of me that I cannot deny it.  With each ministry leader that we met and learned from, we saw their emphasis on prayer in their lives and work. I felt the need to ask almost every single one of them, "How can we be praying for you?". I felt helpless to do anything else meaningful, but I had a new found passion for prayer, and that was something I knew I could do, and something I knew would have an effect!

 James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

That's how it felt with Brittany, TJ & Jubliee. I was helpless. I wanted so badly, as I'm sure everyone did, to intervene; to offer some easy button for them to push- for a miracle. And when you can do nothing, when you are completely helpless to do anything in the physical realm, you can always pray.

Friends, there is power in prayer. Prayer changes things. I believe this with a passion, and you can trust that when I tell you I'm praying for you, I really am. Truly. I love this example from 2 Kings 20:

20 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”

² Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ³ “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

⁴ Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: ⁵ “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. ⁶ I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”

While there was intense heart-ache and grief watching Brittany & TJ walk this road, there is joy- joy in knowing that the Lord has indeed heard the prayers of his people and brought full and complete healing to Jubliee. There is no better place that she could be than in the arms of Jesus. And little Jubilee has impacted my faith and life, and I am so grateful. While I hope to never see another father have to carry his child's casket, or a mother have to carry a child she knows will not breath the air of this world, I know that God is faithful through it all. He is good. He is Sovereign. He is faithful and loving. He is a God who listens to our prayers and moves in response to them. Thank you, Lord Jesus.