When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Ps. 56:3-4
If one part (of the Body of Christ) suffers, all the parts suffer with it. 1 Cor. 12:26
Dear heavenly Father, as the reach of the internet keeps expanding, the world feels smaller than ever, and the stories and struggles of our family in Christ are much more real to us. We have brothers and sisters, around the world, for whom this Scripture about fear and trust is a daily reality.
When King David prayed this prayer, he was a prisoner of Philistines in Gath; as we pray, Father, here are some other fear-producing storylines, we bring to your occupied throne of grace—confident of your mercy and might.
We pray for our brothers and sisters in North Korea, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan—the five countries in the world where Christians are most likely to be singled out for daily persecution. Father, may your perfect love tame their fears and deepen their trust. As they suffer, we suffer, because we’re family.
The Psalmist asked, “What can mere mortals man do to me?” To which we respond, “Plenty,” but in view of eternity and what really matters, very little. As these Christians live out the story of your redeeming love in Jesus, grant them the same grace and courage you gave Justin Martyr. When facing “mere mortals” who would take his life, Justin responded, “You may kill us, but you cannot harm us.” What but the gospel can provide such supernatural peace and more-than-sufficient grace?
Father, we also pray for friends in our communities—believers and neighbors, who wake up today with chronic pain and dwindling resources, and relational nightmares and very hard providences. Their pain is our pain. Bring the gospel to bear in profound, tangible, and obvious ways; and use us as answers to the very prayers we pray.
Lastly, Father, we own our fears and anger about groups who relish evil making and terrorism—and human trafficking, drug dealing, and pornography peddling. How long, O Lord, how long? How long before all things are put right—the Day of no more death and dying, the Day your tear wiping hand will do its final work? So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ glorious and grace-full name.