Judah’s King Hezekiah became ill with a serious sickness and was near death. Such an event can happen to anyone at any time, even to God’s servants. The prophet Isaiah told the king that this was his terminal illness (2). But in spite of this word from God, Hezekiah still prayed earnestly, asking God to remember his faithfulness to the Lord and his service, and spare his life (3).

Amazingly, Hezekiah’s prayer seemed to change God’s mind! Isaiah came back with a promise of healing and of fifteen more years of life (5). Hezekiah’s time on earth was still limited, but he got a deadline extension. The Lord gave a miraculous sign on the steps of the temple as proof of his promise (11).

This is why we should always pray and not give up. Anything is possible with prayer, even if it seemingly means God himself should change his plans. We can’t guarantee that God will always preserve our earthly life. Each of us will also need to prepare for God’s work to continue after we go to be with the Lord. But we can always be sure that humble prayer moves God’s heart.
Application: Father, thank you for answering prayer beyond what even seems possible. Help me to pray humbly but boldly without giving up, no matter how bleak things look.
One Word: Prayer moves God’s heart.