day 2851: Relief

“He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.”

Major League Baseball is back and once again we have the controversy of when to use relief pitchers.  Why not let a starting pitcher pitch longer into the game when he is doing so well?  The question is relative across all areas of life; when do we bring in the relievers?  Congress is doing it again right now.  What should be the next relief package for the economy and unemployed workers?  And we ask ourselves the question daily, “What is the best way to relieve these aches and pains and when do I do so?”.  Relief is part of who we are because nothing is built to last forever and everything eventually wears out and wears down.

On Saturday we lost a good friend to COVID-19.  Until this, the virus was serious in my mind and I was doing all the right things as it relates to protecting myself and others, but when someone you admire and care for is taken prematurely, it becomes personal.  Jazeb prayed a prayer of relief and I have prayed it now over and over as I think about what the coming days might be like. “Please be with me (and others) in all that I (we) do and keep me (and all of us) from trouble and pain.” And then comes the promise, if God answered Jazeb, then He will answer me (us) too with the relief I (we) need.

Reference: 1 Chronicles 4: 10  (New Living Translation)

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