Bring It to God

By Rev Tan Eng Boo

Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;

and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. 

(2 Kings 19:14)

It is always a privilege for the children of God to bring to Him their prayer requests. The apostle Paul told the Christians in Philippi,

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).

I am reminded of a story that was told by Pastor David Jeremiah:

In his Turning Point Daily Devotional, David Jeremiah told the story of Burleigh Law, a missionary pilot in Congo, who “was once trapped in a deadly sky by a storm that seemed to come from nowhere. Burleigh lost his bearings as thunderclouds surrounded him on every side. Here and there openings appeared in the clouds, and he kept turning his plane toward those openings, following little patches of blue like a needle through fabric. Finally he saw a little landing strip beneath him, and he landed with a sigh of relief.

“Suddenly a vehicle came racing up to his plane. A nurse ran to him, saying, 'I don't know where you came from, but I know you are an answer to our prayers.'

“A missionary couple had been isolated on this remote mission station. The roads were impassible and the bridges were out. The wife had become seriously ill with a high fever. Early that morning the Christians in the village had gathered in earnest prayer for help. God responded by arranging the storm clouds in the sky to direct Burleigh Law's little plane to that very spot of earth.

“If you're in trouble, pray. God's delight is to deliver us in His own way and time through the power of our prayers.” (Virginia Law, Appointment Congo [Chicago: Rand McNally & Co., 1966], pp. 20-21.)

What are the troubles you are facing today? Just as the disciples of Jesus in the Sea of Galilee – who were overwhelmed by the fierce storm – only had to call upon Jesus (Matthew 8:23-27), we too can call upon God when we are facing trouble: “Save us, Lord; we are perishing” (Matthew 8:25).

When King Hezekiah was confronted with the massive invasion force of 185,000 Assyrian solders who were with the Assyrian King Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35), Hezekiah went to the Lord in prayer.

The king of Assyria had earlier mocked Hezekiah and his God:

“Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? (2 Kings 19:10, 11).

The Assyrians under Sargon and Sennacherib had enjoyed an uninterrupted series of military successes, but not this time. Hezekiah went into the temple and laid before God the letter which he had received from the Assyrian messenger (2 Kings 19:9). This is a wonderful illustration of what we should do in times of trouble. “Bring it to the Lord!”

When you have laid before God your troubles, leave the answer to God. In His own sovereign timing, He will minister to you.

“God is more concerned with conforming me to the likeness of His Son than leaving me in my comfort zones. God is more interested in inward qualities than outward circumstances – things like refining my faith, humbling my heart, cleaning up my thought life

and strengthening my character”

– Joni Eareckson Tada, American evangelical Christian author, radio host, artist, and founder of Joni and Friends, an organization "accelerating Christian ministry

in the disability community.

* I borrowed the title and the devotional verse for this pastoral article from the May 14, 2025, devotional by Our Daily Bread Ministries.