A Prayer to Be a Vessel, Not a Victim - Your Daily Prayer - September 14

Audio By Carbonatix

A Prayer to Be a Vessel, Not a Victim
By Keri Eichberger

Bible Reading:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5

“Mike and I had the privilege of sitting beside Mark in the hospital before he passed, sharing real conversation and raw prayers. And through tears Mark not only expressed his boundless gratitude for his precious wife, but reflected on his confidence from the moment of his diagnosis that he was not a victim, but a vessel. He wanted God to use him.” 

Those were my opening words in a Facebook post I wrote to honor Mark’s life just two days after he saw the face of Jesus. His wife Allison is one of my dearest longtime friends. But the truth is, I called Mark “friend” too. He battled stage-four colon cancer for two years, and certainly fought a God-honoring fight the entire way. His greatest goal was to glorify God. And did he ever—beautifully. Mark wouldn’t have claimed to have lived the perfect life—as no one should—but he pointed to and pursued the perfect one. Simply put, he loved God, and loved others. He was committed to growth, and was the kind of guy that thought of others before himself—even when he was the one suffering. The guy who took time to text me prayers when I was going through a scary season with my dad’s health, while he was enduring chemo treatments, receiving radiation, dealing with difficult scan results, navigating appointment after appointment, and fear after fear for his wife and young children at home. Yet he leaned harder on the Lord and didn’t hide it.

I don’t know what you’re going through in your life. But I wonder if you’ve ever fallen into the pit of a valley, felt a bit sorry for yourself, or at some point asked, Why me, God? Possibly there’s something right now leaving you with those questions and feelings. If so, I pray that like me you might look to Mark‘s model as inspiration of how to use pain for purpose. As a demonstration of how to lean on God and his understanding. How to take your difficulty—that God prepared us all for in this life—and use it to point others to our faithful good God. How to remind others that he is our source of strength. That he is the only one we can depend on. That he is our eternal hope. And that no matter what outcomes may become of our situation, God stays with us through it all, and they can be used for so much good. 

It was merely ten days before Mark passed when my husband and I had that blessed encounter of receiving Mark’s words of witness one last time at his hospital bedside. Even in his dying days, he confidently claimed he never once questioned God. Reminding us that from the very beginning he knew he wanted God to use him—regardless of the outcome. And that is just what God has done.

My post continued, “Mark displayed who to look to and hold tight to in life’s most difficult moments. Mark understood that life is hard, that death is guaranteed for all, but that it is our faith in the Lord that holds us up and together as we await our heavenly home. Mark and Allison both grew so beautifully in faith the past two years, and myself and countless others are changed for the better because of it.”

Friend, Mark spent the last two years of his life modeling what it looks like to live out trusting in God with all your heart and leaning not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5, his life verse after diagnosis.) Not only did he desire his story to be used, he became an inspiration of trust in God for his wife who grew in great faith also, becoming a mighty vessel of God’s strength, peace, and power. Who also, as part of Mark’s legacy, wants his hard but beautiful story heard. A story that is now her living story of pain used for God’s good purpose.

So many in this path gained great perspective as Mark battled the unimaginable. He showed us what it looks like to truly live on purpose. And I hope he gives you perspective and hope of a newfound purpose today too. If someone no more qualified than you or me can endure something so devastatingly difficult with such faith and perseverance—something we can hardly imagine being able to handle—I believe we can face the day with confidence, grace, and faith in the good to come too. We don’t have to ask, why? The truth is, we’ll never be sure until we meet Jesus. But we can be sure that our struggles will never be in vain. Because our suffering will serve and bless others, and us, in return. If we choose to be a vessel and not a victim. If we choose to lean on God, let him fill us, and allow him to use us and our purpose-filled, good stories. 

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, You are the one I can hold tight to. The one who can hold me up and lift me out of every valley. And I am thankful you can use all of my pain for your good purpose. No matter what I’ve been through, what painful path I’m on, or what I will walk through tomorrow, good can and will come from all things in my life. Help me find peace and comfort in that. Help me find great joy today in that. I praise you that I will be immensely blessed with continual pours of your good. I praise you that I will be abundantly blessed as I become a vessel who blesses others. In your almighty Name, Amen.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Tanes Ngamsom

Keri Eichberger is a Jesus-loving Kentucky girl. She is married to her best friend, Mike, and has a full house of five kids. After years of writing for an online audience, Keri became ordained through Southeast Christian Church, giving her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes, and has a passion for sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at KeriEichberger.com or Instagram.

Listen to Greg Laurie's New Show!

Everyone talks about life after death, but what about life during life? Do you wonder, 'Why am I here? How can I be truly happy? Does my life matter, or why do I feel empty inside?' And, 'What really happens when I die?' Pastor Greg Laurie has helped millions find profound hope through true faith. On "The Greg Laurie Show," he transparently shares his own journey from hopelessness, addiction, and abuse to a spiritual revolution that transformed everything. Drawing on decades of impactful ministry, Greg tackles life's deepest questions, offering timeless biblical wisdom, practical guidance, and a compelling vision for a life radically transformed by Christ. Join Pastor Greg as he navigates today's cultural challenges, unpacks spiritual truths, and empowers listeners to discover lasting joy and meaning in a relationship with God.

Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below