{"id":4355,"date":"2017-12-19T12:13:35","date_gmt":"2017-12-19T17:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/?p=4355"},"modified":"2017-12-19T12:13:35","modified_gmt":"2017-12-19T17:13:35","slug":"prayer-joy-holiday-doldrums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2017\/12\/prayer-joy-holiday-doldrums.html","title":{"rendered":"A Prayer for Joy in the Holiday Doldrums"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. (Psalm 84:6)<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, (Psalm 30:11)<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"wildflowers-in-meadow-in-sun\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The holidays are a joyous season, but sometimes situations render us sad when we are blindsided by circumstances out of our control. In those times we often wonder if the grief will ever subside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you walking through a shadow-filled season, wrought with heaviness? Take to heart these promises from God; hold onto His Word as you enter His throne room to pray, and ask Him to remember His promises towards you. Not that He forgets! The only thing He forgets is our sin, but He encourages us to remind Him of His promises, so that is what we do. <\/span><\/p>\n

Our assignment is to search and find His Word for our situation, and stand in faith and in prayer, believing that we are not the exception to His glorious promises. His Word is the final Word, a legal document we bring before the court of Heaven when we pray.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re overwhelmed with grief, pray this plain and simple promise-prayer with us.<\/span><\/p>\n

Father,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

I understand what the Psalmist meant when he wrote about the, \u201cValley of Weeping.\u201d That has been my journey as of late. Like David\u2019s valley of the shadow of death, I am in a season of pain and grief. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Today I want to bring to Your attention (and to mine) Your promise that this valley I\u2019m currently walking will turn into a place of refreshing springs. Instead of darkness, the light will dawn. Instead of sorrow, I will find joy again. In place of my suffering I will find peace and ease and relief from all that is heavy. Instead of a dry desert, I will find an oasis of refreshment.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

I receive these promises from your gracious hand, Lord.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The situation is too much for me to carry, Lord, so I place it in Your care. Carry me too, for I can\u2019t move forward without Your help. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Thank You for Your promise that my mourning will be turned into dancing. All that is pitiable will be gone, and I will enjoy a celebration party with You and with those I hold dear when this trial is behind us. While I might be tempted to wear sackcloth today, I will put on a garment that brings me joy. I will lift my hands in expectation of Your deliverance and the fulfillment of all Your promises, for they are true, every one!<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

In Jesus\u2019 Name<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Photo on\u00a0Foter.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. (Psalm 84:6) You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, (Psalm 30:11) The holidays are a joyous season, but sometimes situations render us sad when we are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":478,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,15,7,4,25,3,1],"tags":[2305,770,2306,1926,1817],"class_list":["post-4355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-bible-prayer","category-daily-prayer","category-god","category-jesus","category-prayer","category-uncategorized","tag-christmas-depression","tag-gods-promises","tag-holiday-doldrums","tag-hope-for-the-hopeless","tag-the-promises-of-god"],"yoast_head":"\nA Prayer for Joy in the Holiday Doldrums<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2017\/12\/prayer-joy-holiday-doldrums.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Prayer for Joy in the Holiday Doldrums\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When you walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. 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