How can we encourage others to turn to God during their times of trouble? Setting the scene: a day of distress 2 Kings 19:3: “They told him, ‘This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, as when children are ready to be born but there is no strength to deliver them.’” Hezekiah’s words capture the helplessness people feel in crisis. His response models how to steer hurting hearts toward God. Lesson 1: name the trouble honestly • Encourage people to say what’s really happening. Hezekiah did not minimize “distress, rebuke, and disgrace.” • Truthful acknowledgment invites divine help; Psalm 34:17—“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears.” • Remind them that Scripture’s accounts are literal records; God met real people in real trials. Lesson 2: redirect the heart to the Lord • Hezekiah sent messengers straight to Isaiah, God’s prophet (19:2). • Urge others to turn first to God’s Word, not human schemes. • 1 Peter 5:7—“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Lesson 3: gather faithful voices • Hezekiah did not isolate; he involved trusted servants and Isaiah. • Suggest forming a circle of believers who cling to Scripture. • Ecclesiastes 4:12—“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Lesson 4: recall God’s track record • Isaiah later reminded Hezekiah of past deliverances (19:35-36). • Help others rehearse testimonies—personal and biblical—of God’s rescue (Psalm 77:11-12). • Revelation 12:11 shows the power of testimony in overcoming fear. Lesson 5: stand on His promises • Isaiah delivered God’s promise: “He will not enter this city” (19:32). • Share specific promises that fit their situation: – Protection: Isaiah 41:10 – Provision: Philippians 4:19 – Wisdom: James 1:5 • Encourage them to read the promise aloud and write it where they will see it. Lesson 6: pray with humble boldness • Hezekiah spread Sennacherib’s letter before the LORD (19:14). • Guide others to lay out every threatening detail before God. • Hebrews 4:16—“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence.” Lesson 7: wait with expectation • Overnight, the angel of the LORD struck the Assyrian camp (19:35). • Teach patience rooted in trust; Isaiah 40:31 promises renewed strength to those who wait. • Remind them that God’s timetable is perfect, even when unseen. Lesson 8: share and strengthen • After deliverance, Judah’s morale soared; God’s fame spread (19:31-34). • Urge people to tell how God met them; this fuels faith in listeners (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). • Continual sharing creates a culture where turning to God is the reflex in every trial. Putting it together 1. Admit the crisis. 2. Point hearts upward. 3. Involve Scripture-anchored friends. 4. Remember God’s past works. 5. Cling to His explicit promises. 6. Pray specific, bold prayers. 7. Wait expectantly. 8. Testify to encourage the next struggler. When we walk others through these eight steps—patterned after Hezekiah’s day of distress—we hand them more than advice; we hand them the living, trustworthy Word of God that never fails. |
    |