Remember Your Promises, O Lord
Scripture:
“He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.” (2 Kings 18:5)
“This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth, and there is no strength to deliver.”
(Isaiah 37:3)
Weekly Prayer:
King Hezekiah is remembered for many things: ridding Judah of the high places of worship and commanding the people to worship only in Jerusalem as the Lord desired, instructing them to remain silent in the face of the enemy’s threats, constructing the Siloam Tunnel to secure water for Jerusalem, and crying out to the Lord to remember his good deeds and heal him from sickness. Scripture says of him,
“He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.”
(2 Kings 18:5)
Yet one of my favorite, and often overlooked, moments in Hezekiah’s life was when he prayed for the safety of Jerusalem. He sent word to Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth, and there is no strength to deliver.”
(Isaiah 37:3)
In this plea, Hezekiah reminds God that He has purposed Israel with intention. But without God’s help, they cannot fulfill that destiny. Just as a pregnant mother is destined to give birth, so Israel was destined to be set apart for the Lord. Yet at the time of Hezekiah’s prayer, Jerusalem’s future was under threat. They were vassals to Assyria.
Though Hezekiah had worked tirelessly to remove false gods and restore true worship, he had come to the end of his own strength in breaking them free from illegitimate authority. And in that moment, he turned to the only One who could truly save. The Lord heard Hezekiah’s prayer and came to Jerusalem’s rescue.
The Power of Reminding God of His Promises
I love that Hezekiah knew he could remind God of His promises and then call upon Him to fulfill them. This is not a sign of doubt, but of deep trust. It is an act of faith to say, “God, I know what You have spoken. I am asking You to do it.”
We can do the same thing. In fact, I believe this is exactly what God wants us to do — to bring His Word back to Him and actively trust Him to perform it.
Where There is No Strength to Deliver
What area of your life feels like “there is no strength to deliver”? Where do you need to call on God to remember His promises and bring them to pass? Maybe you are facing something that has worn you down to nothing. You have prayed, you have worked, you have waited, but the breakthrough has not come.
Friend, this is not the end. This is the moment to lean fully on Him. He will not fail to bring His good purposes to completion.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You delight in answering the prayers of Your children. Thank You that Your ears are attentive when we cry out. Thank You that You have purposeful plans for each woman reading this prayer. You know the burdens they carry, the weariness in their strength, and the ache in their souls. And yet…You are faithful!
Remember Your promises, O Lord. Remember Your people. Come to their rescue. Come to their aid. Bring Your good plans to completion in their lives. Move now, by the power of Your Spirit. We give You full permission to rule and reign in our hearts and days. We say “Yes” to what pleases You. We come into agreement with Your plans and purposes.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Closing Thought:
Hezekiah’s prayer shows us that faith is not the absence of struggle. It is the decision to lean fully on God when our own strength is gone. We do not have to hide our weakness from Him. Instead, we can take His Word, hold it before Him, and trust Him to do what He has promised. Whatever “there is no strength to deliver” moment you are facing, remember that the same God who rescued Jerusalem is the God who sees you, hears you, and is able to bring His plans to completion in your life.
Reflection :
What promises from God’s Word are you holding on to in this season?
Where do you feel “there is no strength to deliver” in your own life?
How might your prayers change if you believed God was eager to fulfill His Word to you?
What step of faith can you take this week to demonstrate your trust in Him?
