God Is Our Refuge and Strength

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; 

     let them ever sing for joy. 

Spread your protection over them, 

     that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

(Psalm 5:11, NIV)

Dear God,

I have a feeling that a lot more people 

are seeking refuge in your today. 

(Funny how that works, isn’t it? 

But that’s something for another day.) 

Of course, seeking you is a good thing, 

and so I should probably stop judging, 

and rejoice that people are turning to you. 

Truly, O God, hear the cries of your people

as we seek you to be our refuge and our help

against the coronavirus COVID-19.

We turn to you, O God,

for you are Lord of the universe;

all things in heaven and on earth,

including COVID-19,

must answer to you.

We turn to you, because we trust you.

We know that you don’t promise to exempt

anybody from misfortune and sickness;

  but you do promise to be with us,

    and you promise to provide for our needs,

      and you promise to care for us.

Never is there a moment when we are not in your loving hands;

  never is there a moment when you cease to care; 

    never is there a moment when you turn away from us.

We seek our refuge in you, O God.

Make us glad-hearted and fill us with joy

at the knowledge that there is nothing

in all of creation,

NOT EVEN COVID-19,

that will be able to separate us 

from the love you have shown to us

in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And so I pray that the whole world

will seek you as their refuge – as OUR refuge,

that we may experience the joy 

of your goodness and mercy.

Spread your protection over us, O God,

that we who love your name may rejoice.

And as we experience your goodness,

  may we bear witness to your love

    and your grace

      and your mercy;

for the glory of your Name,

through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "praying with David," using prayers from the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.