Remember Randall
My prayer life can border on the morose at times. For instance, I thank God every evening when we lay our head on our pillows when I realize He’s allowed our family to avoid devastation that day. Luke and I have walked through enough tragedies with those we love – and experienced a few ourselves – to understand that life often turns on a dime. With a phone call, a doctor’s visit, a confession – an otherwise boring day can suddenly become the one when our world slips from its axis.
Girls, the ground is shaking beneath our friends, The Blacks. Randall, wife Jenny, and three girls Alicia, Allison, and Lindsey – are beloved members of our community and one of the most fun families ever. Alicia is a high school senior. Allison is in 8th grade with my oldest son. Lindsey is one of my daughter’s besties. I can barely stand to type it, but Randall – age 39 – has just been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. It is a very rare, fatal, brain disorder with no known cause or cure. It only strikes 1 in 1 million people in the U.S. each year.
Needless to say, this family as well as the ones who love them are rocked to the core. But I praise God that though the earth be shaken, their foundation is firmly in Christ. Jenny told me that “their family is holding to their faith and that Randall is happy and not worried. Not at all. He believes He will be healed and if he is not, he is not afraid to die.”
Friends, this disease is fatal. I’m not talking fatal in a few years but within months of onset. He has been ill since May. As Jenny said to me, it is crunch time. I am reminded of Hezekiah when he became ill and the Lord told him he would not recover. Hezekiah wept bitterly and prayed to the Lord for deliverance and for the sake of His Name, God extended his life.
The Lord has promised in His Word that we can approach his throne boldly. So it is in this assurance I now approach the Most High God with my request. Please dear God, for the sake of your Great Name, I beg of you – heal Randall. It’s never been done before. So many are watching fully aware that people from everywhere in the area are petitioning the throne on Randall’s behalf. Dearest Lord, because I believe you are a God of wonders, won’t you exhibit your fame once more in a fabulous display of regenerative, restorative, not- even-a-sign-he-was-ever-sick healing? God, I know you can. Do this, God. One more time, will you do this? Will you set the sun back for this family and lengthen the days they can enjoy one another and praise your mercy and lovingkindness? I’m pleading with you Lord, Our Healer, blow us away.
I know there are so many things you are asked to pray for daily but I am pleading with you to storm the throne on this one. Ask the Lord to heal this man. Ask Him to uphold Jenny and the girls with His strong, capable right hand. Ask Him for a display of His Splendor on this mountain that will make the cover of medical journals world-wide.
I will be forever and ever grateful if you would be so kind as to write your prayer for this family in the comments. {Edited to Add: If it isn’t a privacy issue with you, would you please also note which state or country you represent? THANKS!} Jenny gave me permission to ask for you to intercede on their behalf and I know that now the prayers of God’s people are all that sustain her family. I know she will be so grateful to know this news has escaped our community and that people all over this nation – and I’m going to go big here and say WORLD – will be uttering her husband’s name to the Creator of it. I’m thanking you in advance for being a people of good works who will stand shoulder to shoulder with suffering brothers and sisters in Christ.
To give you a visual, this is Randall riding my daughter on Lindsay’s horse in early June. He was only just beginning to feel poorly here. This was at another dear friend, Alayna’s, birthday party. He led the kids on horseback in the blazing sun for hours because that’s just the kind of guy he is.
This is The Girl’s birthday sleepover from early September. Lindsey is second from the right. I can’t even wrap my mind around how my daughter would accept losing her daddy. Lindsey doesn’t understand all that is going on so please pray for all the girls – but maybe say an extra for this precious one.
Much love to you all,
Lisa
Father God, Almighty Savior, our Physician and Healer, I lift Randall to you expecting great things in his life. Lord I beg for your mercy and your healing. Lord Jesus you have sustained us with our salvation and now I beg you sustain this family with your healing touch. You are mighty in all your works. You care for each of us even though we are so unworthy. Randall is your child and I know you love him much more than any one of us can. Please Lord lay your healing hand upon him that he may be a living testament to your greatness. Your name will be praised throughout this land for this disease is incurable. You can cure him. No doctor can take the credit from you. Please Lord Jesus grant this humble request from your unworthy child. Your name will be praised even if you choose to take Randall home. Our love for you will not wane. Bless this family with peace. Surround them with your angels to soothe and comfort their spirits. Thank you Lord Jesus for the mighty works you will perform. Amen
Cindy
LaFayette, Ga
Heavenly Father, please heal Randall. Display your power and glory. We know you can do all things Lord.
Lord, please be with this family. Randall’s wife and daughters. May they feel your loving arms around them. May they take comfort in your overwhelming love for them.
Amen
Julie, California
Dear Father: I lift up my brother Randall to You tonight. We praise You for being our faithful God and the Savior of our souls. I ask that You would heal Randall for Your glory alone and that You would give peace and grace to his wife and children, and other family and friends. We thank You that your mercy and love for us never cease and that You love us with an everlasting love. Wrap Your arms around this precious family and hold them close. We thank you Lord for hearing our prayer and making a way for us to enter Your presence through the shed blood of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus. In His Name I pray, Amen.
Mrs. Jan
Hawkinsville, Georgia
Dear Lord: I pray to you Lord that this Father, Son and Husband be healed from this disease and be able to continue to serve you Lord in this world. I pray you lift his sickness and pain and take it away forever. Lord I pray for his family to beleive and have faith in you ole Lord and praise you always. I beleive you are able to heal all that is evil and Lord I pray that this man shall continue to serve you in this time of darkness and need. I pray this in your holy name Lord. Thank you Jesus, Amen
I am praying for this precious family.
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To Randall, Jennie, Alicia, Allison, & Lindsey,
My prayer for you all is this….
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
May God Bless & heal. In Jesus Name – Amen
Thought of Randall many times through this day. Wanted him and his family to know that someone in Sheridan Wyoming was praying for him.
Melana
My prayers are with you.
GOD bless you all.
Flor Pulido, Charity Garcia, Amanda Garcia,& Naomi Garcia
Dear God, thank you for hearing every word that we are saying to you about this family. You know Randall is the head of his family, just like You are the head of the church. Father we need godly men like Randall around here, down here on the earth, making godly decisions, influencing others and being a good daddy and a good husband. From what I have read, he’s doing all that. We need more of that down here. So please Father, please heal him completely down here so he can continue to spread the Good News and raise his daughters to be godly women and be a husband to his wife in their golden years. God we just thank you that we can come to you with the very aches of our hearts knowing that you are totally capable of healing Randall just as easy as you flung the stars into the sky and named them everyone. Please throw away this horrible disease from Randall’s body and make him healthy again. Please do this as I join many many others in prayer asking you for the same. In Jesus’ name in Geraldine AL
Lord Jesus, please place your healing touch on Randall. Lord, we know that you are the Great Physician and there is nothing in this whole world that You cannot do! Please give peace to him and his family through this – his wife, children, parents, siblings, and all who know him. Lord, we know that the peace that you give surpasses all understanding and it’s only You in your mercy who could do that. Lord, I make a promise to you that I will pray to You everyday for this family and for his healing and thank You for who You are! I love you!
Deb – Rock Spring, Georgia
Dear Heavenly Father we ask that you wrap your loving arms around this young family. We know of your healing power first hand and know the grace you give during this time, of not knowing what to expect next. We ask for a healing now Lord; you know this couple will take your message to others that will bring glory to you. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen
Dear God, please help Jenny and girls through this trying time. They know how strong Randall is, and anyone who knows Randall, knows that he is a wonderful person. We need him here for his family and all that he is and has done for our community. God please hear all of our prayers, in Jesus name, Amen.
[…] She is overwhelmed – as was I – at your powerful, blow-the-doors-off-Heaven prayers you offered on behalf of her family. When we realize that God calls His people to be in conversation with Him so that we can be […]
Oh God, we come before you weary. tired and faint. We cry out to you as Isaiah, Comfort, Comfort the Black family. We pray these things before you that they may prepare the way of the Lord to act on behalf of this desperate situation. Lord we ask that you would make level the way of your super intervention so that your glory would be revealed. Lord we acknowledge and confess to you that we are like grass, a small vapor that is here today and gone the next, but on behalf of Randall- we ask that you spare your breath that makes the grass fade. extend his life.
We acknowledge that you are Power. Your arm rules. Nothing in this life is out of your rule, and so we plead that you would hear this cry. Your word describes you as the Shepard. Oh Lord, so many times I have felt that gentle arm caring for me. God I ask that you would continue to show this family how you are gathering them in. May they feel the closeness of your heartbeat in this most desperate hour. Thank you for leading so gently, that you are a God who is a compassionate caregiver.
I don’t know what to say. I know that before you I am speechless. Have I ever measured the waters in my hand? No! It is you that has created this fragile life that we live in. Who can know your thoughts? Who has taught you or showed you understanding? So Lord, we confess that we don’t know what to ask for, except what you have created us to do and that is live.
I am nothing compared to you. But You are enthroned! You sit as King over all things, for you have made the laws of nature that we live by. Your word says that you cover us with the stars like a blanket. You draw them out at night, and in all the complexities of the universe, not one is missing that you have not ordained. It is here that we plea, that you would heal Randall. You are not limited, as we are. You are the Creator, and we ask that you would create for Randall a new brain, a healed brain.
I bring my complaints to you God, like so many have, because we know You hear us. You are an Everlasting God. You created all thing, the good the bad and the ugly, and know that ALL things work together for good of those who trust you.
There is no God like you. For you give strength to the weary and tired, and you increase the power of the weak. Those who hope in you will renew their strength. Lord we pray that you will help the Black family to soar! To run this race before them, and not grow weary. To walk and not be faint.
These things we ask, in your most precious and Holy name. Amen.
(adapted from Isaiah 40)
[…] Jenny, then you know they traveled to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota last Friday for further testing on his condition. Our hope was for the doctors to find another diagnosis rather than CJD. The heartbreaking news is […]
I am praying for a miracle: God still heals today.
Glenys from Australia
[…] powerful prayers and the emails I’ve received from those of you who continue to intercede Randall and Jenni Black’s behalf. Jenni and I talked on the phone for over an hour Thursday night so I’d love to […]