Chaplain Corner Article
“I have heard your prayers and seen your tears; I will heal you.” 2 Kings 20:5
In 2 Kings 20th chapter, Hezekiah becomes very ill, unto death. Prophet Isaiah shows up to tell Hezekiah to get his affairs in order as he is about to die. Hezekiah does not respond to Isaiah. Instead, he immediately turns his face to the wall and begins to pray to God. Hezekiah does not beg for his life. However, he reminds God of his faithfulness and dedication to what God has entrusted to him. As Hezekiah reflected back to God his faithfulness, he begin to cry bitterly but he never complained. God stops Isaiah, before he could leave the middle court, and tells him to go back to Hezekiah. God says: “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”
I am sure Hezekiah thought this was the end as we have often been taught to believe that when God makes a decision it is final. However, this is not the case! Not only does God restore Hezekiah but adds an additional 15 years to his life. Hezekiah did not take the years God had given him lightly nor did he waste them. He continued to be fruitful and honor God with his life until it was officially his time.
Many of us have become spiritually and mentally exhausted with our current society. Some of us may have begun to believe the words of Isaiah as we watch current events unfold that we should get our affairs in order as this is the end. However, like Hezekiah many us have turned our face to the wall, prayed, and cried as we have spoken of the good deeds we have continued to do regardless of our current state. We remind God of our actions and our faithfulness to ensure democracy, justice, and greater world for us all. Because of us not complaining or even begging for our lives, God is letting us know it is not over. No matter what goes on in our current state of affairs, God is going to heal us because God has heard our prayers and seen our silent tears. Now is not the time to lose sight of what our mission and purpose in life is to be. Instead, it is time for us to work with purpose and intentionality as it is not over until God says it is over.
Blessings,
Reverend Takana L. Jefferson United States Navy Chaplain