Jeremiah 31:25

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

How does the Lord bring us comfort and peace in times of affliction? He leads us to the secret closet of intimacy with Him. Jesus reminds us that it is there that the Father touches us personally: “When you pray, go into your closet and shut the door. Pray to your Father, who sees you in secret and He will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6, my paraphrase).

Recently a dear friend of mine—the bishop over the Pentecostal movement in Hungary—was tragically killed in a freak accident. His cooking grill caught fire and he was badly burned. He was treated and thought to be okay, but a few days later he died suddenly from blood clots that had formed.

Friends around the world are standing with his widow in prayer and support. Yet true comfort for her will come from above. No psychologist can help her through her deepest pain. The Comforter is faithful to meet her in her secret place with Him.

I realize I can’t personally reach the thousands of hurting believers who write to us. We received a letter from a pregnant wife who is married to a pastor. She has just discovered that her husband is a pedophile. She writes, “I don’t know what to do but I believe I have to divorce my husband. I don’t want him molesting our child.”

There is one thing every hurting brother and sister can do: Take it all to Jesus, get shut in with Him and find comfort in His presence. The Lord says, “I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul” (Jeremiah 31:25). How does God do this? He meets each one there in the secret place: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

Do you see the importance of setting your heart to pray in a secret place? It is not about legalism or bondage, but about love. It is about God’s goodness toward us. He sees what’s ahead and knows we need tremendous resources, daily replenishing. All of that is found in the secret place with Him.

You may think you don’t know how to pray but you can begin by simply praising Him. What matters is that you are there by faith, by obedient love, and your Father will see you there. He will reveal His love to you in secret, and He will reward you openly with the fruit of His kingdom. The Holy Spirit will pray through you and give you expression.