Gap Coverage

“After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you did not speak the truth about me, the way my servant Job did. Now take seven bulls and seven rams to Job and offer them as a sacrifice for yourselves. Job will pray for you, and I will answer his prayer and not disgrace you the way you deserve. You did not speak the truth about me as he did.” Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar did what the Lord had told them to do, and the Lord answered Job’s prayer.” Job‬ ‭42‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭

Job was asked to provide gap coverage for his friends. During Job’s trials his friends had not spoken the truth to him. The Lord instructed them to bring seven bills and seven rams to Job to sacrifice to the Lord so they would not be disgraced.

We are called to provide gap coverage too. We do t offer animal sacrifices but instead the Bible instructs us to be a living sacrifice. We offer a sacrifice of prayers, acts of service, love and praise to the Lord. We stand in the gap for our friends, family, those we know and care about, the church, the communities we live, the government and even the world. We can not save them, Jesus already provided the complete sacrifice there standing in the gap for us all. We still can pray that Holy Spirit will draw them, open their eyes, and make Jesus real to those who don’t know Him. We can pray for healing, provision and protection for others.

One of the things I love about journals is that I have often made prayer lists and even written out prayers. As as result I can look back and clearly see God’s answers. There are prayers God has answered with a “yes” and a “wait” that I have seen fulfilled. There are also some He answered no. While I could easily focus my heart on the “no” because I do not understand why the answer would be no for my daddy’s healing, or sparing the life of my best friend who left behind three children or why He would let my nephew die at such a young age; I know if I stayed in that space I would live in sadness.

Instead God shows me and often reminds me of His answers of “yes.” I can still see the miracles He performed. I see the restoration in my marriage as well as the marriages of other friends and family that are flourishing despite the trials. I see little girls that exist despite the previously closed wombs. I see people walking in deliverance from addictions, those walking out their healing, many lives that have been transformed, and many other little blessings that God has provided along the way.

Sometimes people knew I was standing in the gap, like Job’s friends knew he did for them. I have prayed for those who spoke against me without just cause and for those I have harmed. Often someone will just come to my mind and I will say a quick little prayer for them. Other times I have a passionate meeting with the Lord in my quiet time where I over gap coverage pouring out my soul before the Him.

When I stay connected to Him, He will show me who is standing in the need of prayer even if they are not asking. If someone asks for me to pray for them, I will do that as well. I never know if God will use my prayer to answer for someone in need. It is one of the greatest privileges we have as believers to pray with and for others.

Prayer – Lord, thank You for the example of Jesus providing gap coverage in salvation for all people. Thank You for using Job to show us we have the same privilege. Show me today who I need to stand in the gap and provide coverage in prayer or service for. In Jesus name. Amen.