Morning Prayer Day 18
Holy God,
The songs of the bible are filled with messages of praise for your greatness. They are also filled with lament, fear, frustration, and loss.
There are those who say that if we are experiencing these feelings and pain points in our lives that we aren’t praying hard enough or that we don’t believe strong enough. They tell us that we have little faith.
God, help us hear those messages with the danger they pose. Belief in you is not a way to relieve our suffering, but rather to know that you are with us inside our suffering.
The Psalmist knew this. They lived in the tension between great joy and great sorrow. Today’s world has a need to be more comfortable. To tie up our problems with a neat bow. To put you and our lives in neat boxes that help us understand and explain, but you are not a box.
You are Holy. You are mighty. Help us recognize when we are putting too much emphasis on our own ability to trust and believe and see you for the gracious God you are - THE ONE - who comes to us, abides with us, and walks with us.
The world is full of tension right now, and we are growing numb. We are disengaging and closing in on ourselves, and yet you come. You will not leave us in this suffering alone no matter how long it lasts, and for that Holy God, we give you thanks. Turn our hearts to you. Fill us with gratitude for this day - this pandemic day.
This is our prayer.
Amen
Today’s Daily Scripture Reading
Daily Scripture readings are adapted from the upcoming readings as outlined by the Revised Common Lectionary. They reflect the New Revised Standard Version.