He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Isa. 43:2 (NLT)
Lord Jesus, thank you for perpetually presiding at a throne of grace, and for doing so with burden-bearing love and all-welcoming kindness. When we feel like “fragile reeds” or “flickering candles,” you give rest, not rebukes.
We bring you our burdens generated from ordinary and complex relationships. No aspect of our lives demands more of us than our calling to love well. As parents and spouses, friends and workers, employers and neighbors, grant us thick skin, big hearts, and more grace.
Personally, I come to you today with my first full bore flu-ish feeling bad cold of 2020—with sore throat, 18% energy, and a general sense of the “blahs.” Help me, and those like me, to get better, accept our limits, and be wise.
Jesus, we bring you the weight we feel from having longer “to do” lists than hours in the day. Sometimes the sheer demanding-ness of life makes us want to buy a one-way ticket to a faraway place. But since that would solve nothing, we ask for wisdom and grace to choose between the critical things and lesser things.
We come to you with circumstances we’d love to change, stories we’d love to finish, and the weariness of living in such a divided nation. Grant us a vision of your occupied throne, and deeply encourage us with the sure hope of your second coming.
In our fatigue, keep us from overindulging in too much caffeine and sugar, whine and wine, the approval of people and the lies of envy. We trust you for all the grace and encouragement, repentance and strength we need for today. So very Amen we pray, in your kind and trust-worthy name.