11 April | Teens
«And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.» 2 Kings 20: 6
Once upon a time, there was a king named Hezekiah who ruled over God's people. He was known to be righteous and faithful, always seeking to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But one day Hezekiah became very ill, so sick that it seemed as if there was no hope of a cure. It was then that the prophet Isaiah brought a message from God to him, “Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.”
Upon hearing this news, Hezekiah did something we can all learn from: he was upset, but he turned to the wall and prayed fervently, asking the Lord for mercy. God, touched by Hezekiah's sincere prayer, sent Isaiah again to tell him that He had heard his prayer, and He would add another fifteen years to his life. As proof of this, he caused the shadow on Ahaz's sundial to go back ten degrees.
This incredible story shows us the power of prayer and how God is always willing to listen to us. Like Hezekiah, we can draw closer to God in prayer, remembering that God loves us and wants the best for us. Remember that, even when things seem impossible, we can trust God to surprise us with His goodness and mercy. Will we also get fifteen more years of life?
Take Action
To remember this amazing story, how about creating a homemade sundial with paper, pencil and some sunshine? That way, you can see how the shadows move and remember that, just as God controlled time to help Hezekiah, He is also in control of our lives and can work miracles when we trust Him.