Sickness – 💔 Take heart!

A Gethsemane prayer (for M.)

26.10.202626.10.2026Ruth Kirk

This prayer came to me last night, as a result of the teaching during Sunday’s service at my wonderful new church. After much thought, I have stayed with how Jesus addressed God in the Garden of Gethsemane:

My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death (Matthew 26:38; NLT).

Abba,
Use my grieving mind
To love and serve all humankind.

Use my broken heart each day
So others will embrace your way.

Abba,
Use my wounded soul
To help make those who suffer whole.

Use my stricken, dying flesh
So many start their lives afresh.

Abba,
Use my ruined life
To be a willing sacrifice.

Use my dread, my pain, my cross –
Rebuilding us through hurt and loss.

Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel (Ezra 1:3; NLT).

In that day I will restore the fallen house of David. I will repair its damaged walls. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory (Amos 9:11; NLT).

References

Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19; NKJV).

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

Worship (for F.)

20.10.202620.10.2026Ruth Kirk

Clouds and thick darkness surround him (Psalm 97:2; NIV).

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

❤️

Worship in darkness,
And worship in pain;

Worship in loneliness;
Worship in grief.

Worship in anguish,
And worship in fear;

Worship in sorrow –
For Jesus is here.

❤️

Worship in hunger,
And worship in thirst;

Worship in suffering;
Worship in dread.

Worship in sickness,
And worship in loss;

Worship in dying –
With Christ, on the cross.

❤️

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath (Psalm 146:2; NLT).

References

I kept my faith, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted” (Psalm 116:10; RSV).

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

A wise person thinks a lot about death (Ecclesiastes 7:4; NLT).

Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NIV).

A message to all my readers

22.05.2026Ruth Kirk

Hello to everyone who visits this page. Some of you will know that I have been struggling with severe anxiety, dread, and depression over recent months. This has been going on ever since my childhood dread was re-triggered by something which happened on Facebook.

Today I finally saw my doctor, who is starting me on a new, extra medication. She has also referred me for consultant-level help. She and I will speak again in two weeks, unless I need urgent help before that. The new medication will take at least 4-6 weeks to start having an effect, so it’s essential that I also start learning to be gentler and kinder to myself.

Accordingly, I’m pressing “pause” on my regular writing and daily posting here, so I can focus on my own recovery by giving my body, mind, heart, and soul the rest I desperately need.

Meanwhile, all the existing posts will stay right here, in case anything in the archives is helpful to others while I’m quiet for a while.

✝️ With much love, and many blessings to you all,
From Ruth xxx

New day

22.05.2026Ruth Kirk

Stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord (1 Chronicles 23:30; NIV).

Thank you, God,
For this new day.

Please help me now
To praise and pray,

And gladly welcome
All you send,

Because your love
Will never end.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends (Lamentations 3:22; NLT).

References

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal (Job: 5:17; NIV).

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things (Isaiah 45:7; NIV).

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

Burnt out

20.05.202620.05.2026Ruth Kirk

You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life (Deuteronomy 28:66; NIV).

I’m burnt out by anxiety,
My strength consumed by dread,
For stress has been my closest friend,
And fear my daily bread.

I’m damaged by abuse, Lord,
Though I’ve fought hard to repair
The consequence: no self-esteem,
Depression, and despair.

Despite my agoraphobia
I’ve done the best I could.
This life has been a challenge,
Though I’ve tried to do some good.

In spite of sickness, pain, and loss,
I’ve tackled each ordeal –
Now I’m worn down by suffering,
But you will come to heal.

Darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

He will heal us (Hosea 6:1; NLT).

Here, in stillness

09.05.202609.05.2026Ruth Kirk

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

Here, in stillness,
Here, in silence,
Here, in darkness –
You are light.

Here, in splendour,
Here, in rapture,
Here, in oneness –
You are truth.

Here, in trouble,
Here, in failure,
Here, in ruin –
You are peace.

Here, in sorrow,
Here, in longing,
Here, in anguish –
You are love.

God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

References

God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

Patient endurance

04.05.202604.05.2026Ruth Kirk

We are all fragile, fallible, and mortal. Today, in prayer, I saw clearly that the purpose of life is to face its inevitable challenges, sorrows, and sufferings, learning to accept and endure them as patiently as we can, while still loving and serving Jesus in others. This was Christ’s mission, and it is ours as well, for Jesus is resurrected in us all.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

So here is today’s prayer:

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

You make us,
You see us,
And hear us.

You know us,
You guide us,
And help us.

You feed us,
You love us,
And hold us.

You wound us,
You teach us,
And heal us.

Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand! (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).

References

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher (Isaiah 30:20; RSV).

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5; NLT).

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised (Hebrews 10:36; NLT).

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4; NLT).

Sad world

03.05.2026Ruth Kirk

Why is my heart so sad? (Psalm 42:5; NLT).

How sad this world is!
Dark and drear –
Ease for some,
For others, fear.

How cold this world is!
Full of hate –
Some have freedom,
Others wait.

How strange this world is!
Food and fun –
Some have plenty,
Others, none.

How mean this world is!
Few are kind –
Some can see,
But most are blind.

How sick this world is!
So much pain –
Yet, in all,
Christ lives again.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

References

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world (1 John 4:17; NLT).

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:13; NLT).