Evening Prayer

God of the Universe,

It is evening and once again, my day has left me frustrated, exhausted, and hopeless. These days, each day, I feel more overwhelmed, unproductive, and isolated.

I no longer wake up energized with the hope of completing my to-do list. I wake up hard and exhausted. Most days, I am not even sure what my to-do list should be.

I can no longer anticipate the responses from people in my world - or even from the world. I can no longer anticipate my own responses to simple things because nothing feels simple anymore. I can no longer trust my own feelings.

It isn’t just one thing - I can’t simply pray for one element of my current reality, because, God - it is all the things. It is work, and schooling children, and the hate, and the election, and the loss of connection, and the loss of jobs, and the fear of disease, and the grief.

So, instead Lord, during this time of pandemic - I will turn - I will acknowledge these feelings and fears. I will acknowledge the doubt and hopelessness - and I will turn. I want to turn. Help me turn.

God - intercede.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. And God who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. ~Romans 8

God, knowing that your Holy Spirit intercedes brings me comfort, and I pray this night when I can’t trust my own feelings, that I can trust the Spirit. I pray this night, when I feel unproductive and drained, that the Holy Spirit will intercede with comfort and remind me that I am enough - because you claim me…and that is the true measure of love, belonging, and peace.

No pandemic, or election, or grief can separate me from YOUR LOVE. As I lay down this night, give me rest. Grant me peace. Intercede. May I wake tomorrow with feelings of hope?

In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.