Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Ps. 42:11
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:2
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph. 3:20-21
Dear heavenly Father, I take you quite seriously this morning when you tell us in your Word, that your love for us never waxes and wanes; that your mercies are daily and never-ending; and that you are greatly faithful to your children (Lam. 3:22-23) . At times, life would simply be too much to bear is these things were not true.
Some stretches of days, weeks, and months have a way of highlighting the brokenness of the world, much more so than the beauty of your kingdom. I’m in one of those seasons, and you are an all-season God. Hallelujah, for your nearness, understanding and promise of sufficient grace.
Father, I really don’t need you to do “immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine.” I’ll settle for what I can imagine, for I can prayerfully imagine many ways in which you can bring great glory to yourself and the Lord Jesus.
I bring you friends and love ones who feel more reason to despair in their circumstances, than delight in your promises. There was only one Job, but he has many sons and daughters, nieces and nephews. Father, some of your beloved children don’t even have the energy to cast their cares on you, so come and lift those cares, lest they be crushed under the weight of mounting disappointments.
I bring you hearts once alive to your mercy, grace and peace, now more aware of their failures, limitations and reasons not to dream. Breath, O breath of God, bring the gentle breeze of your sustaining love and zephyrs of resurrection hope.
Father, I bring you some of your pained children who have moved from sadness to madness; from anger to cynicism; and from real faith to mounting doubts. Surely, the evil one is whispering, even shouting in their ears, that you are either a God who can’t be trusted or a God who doesn’t care. Intervene soon, I pray, faithful Lord; interpose your mercy and might, King Jesus; intercede within them, Spirit of God. Turn their wordless groans into the witness of the Father’s love.
Father, show those of us who are in a position to care for the hurting how to be present without bringing pressure; how to pray without preaching; how to care without fixing. If the gospel wasn’t true, we, ourselves, would surely despair.
We love by the light of the day Satan was crushed, sin was defeated, and salvation was secured—the day Jesus cried from the cross, “It is finished!” We hope in light of the Day when Jesus will return—when everything sad will come untrue; everything broken will be made new; and everything wrong will be put right. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ name, with sobered hearts and joyful souls.