Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb. 4:16)
Dear heavenly Father, as Paul’s words clearly confirm, you give us freedom to acknowledge our emotional stress and mental duress—those stretches when we’re spiritually tired and physically “fried”—those seasons when it’d be easy to lose heart and lose our way.
Thank you, thank you, thank you; that the gospel presupposes our weakness, and promises us the exact grace we need, when we need it. So we come boldly (even if a bit weary) to the throne of grace today.
Some of us need relational grace—for loving and serving well in broken, messy, difficult-to-navigate storylines. Grant us wisdom and impartiality, tongue control and heart strength. May a clean vision of what is unseen in heaven, help us deal with what we clearly see before us.
Some of us need physical grace—for accepting the fact, like Paul, that “outwardly we are wasting away.” Even though we know that our bodies are subject to decay and that you’ve promised us a glorified version of the current model, nevertheless, our aches and pains, new cancers and fading memories frighten us. Father, inwardly renew us with the hope of the gospel.
Some of us need emotional grace—for stewarding feelings like anger, grief, anxiety and fear. Father, help us discern and honor the voice of our emotions. What’s really going inside of us? In what ways are we over-needing something and under-believing the gospel?
What unhealed heart wounds are we carrying? Whose voice is louder in our conscience than yours? Where have bitterness, stubbornness, and/or willfulness taken root? Show us, Father.
Humble and gentle us, by your grace; center us and settle us, by your peace; and free and fill us, with your Spirit. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ holy and loving name.