Trusting God in the Chaos

I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right,
    and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
Let your steadfast love become my comfort
    according to your promise to your servant.
Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
    for your law is my delight.

(Psalm 119:75-77)

We confess, O Lord, that the days 

are troubling for us.

We are at a loss as to why 

this world is in such chaos.

We have no answer to the questions 

of the suffering of innocents.

We are dizzy with

  confusion,

    fear,

      worry.

We are in deep waters,

and the current is overwhelming.

But we do know that you are good,

and you are righteous,

and in all things you are just,

and you are faithful and true.

In humility we confess that we cannot plumb 

the depths of your mind,

nor can we fathom 

the limits of your providence.

We do not know the answers 

to the questions of “Why?”

But we do know you;

and your judgments are right.

In all things, you are moving the world 

toward our final redemption.

In your steadfast love and mercy,

we experience life. 

Abundant life.

And so we turn our hearts toward you, O God.

Where else will we turn?

Where else can we turn?

In your mercy, draw near to us,

to comfort us.

  With your compassion, heal us,

  and strengthen us.

    Through your word, instruct us,

    that we might be faithful.

      By your grace, save us,

      for your glory.

We do not understand 

the chaos we are experiencing.

But we trust you, for you are faithful.

And we turn to you:

Save us, Lord, 

according to your steadfast love.

Lead us beside still waters,

and give us rest.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers found in the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.

A Prayer for Those Who Ask, "Why?!"

Why do you hide your face?

   Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?

…

Rise up, come to our help.

   Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.

(Psalm 44:24, 26)

Today, O God, I pray for those who ask, “Why?”

For those whose hopes were dashed by outcomes other than the one for which they had prayed so fervently;

For those who earnestly sought you, and the answer that you gave was not the one they wanted to hear;

For those who have borne the thorn in their flesh for months, years, even decades;

For those whose loved ones have been taken from them far too soon;

For those whose suffering has made them bitter toward you, even wondering whether you care – or if you are there at all...

Today, O God, I pray for those who ask, “Why?”

I confess, O Lord, that I don’t know what to say. 

   I don’t have magical words to make their pain go away.

   I won’t tell them “God works all things for the good…,”

      no matter how much I believe it,

      because that’s not something they can hear right now.

   I won’t say, “God won’t give you more than you can bear,”

      because they’ll call me a liar.

I don’t know what to say, so I pray for them. 

I lift them up to you.

For you know their pain.

   You know their pain, because in your Son you suffered it.

   You know what it is to cry out, “Why?!”

   You know the agony of betrayal and abandonment.

Answer them, O Lord, with your loving presence.

   As they walk through the dark valleys, 

      assure them that you are with them.

   Dispel their darkness, I pray, with 

     your grace,

       your compassion,

          your mercy,

            your peace,

               your steadfast love.

     "This I call to mind, therefore I have hope:

        the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,

        his mercies never come to an end;

        great is your faithfulness.”

Today, O God, I pray for those who ask, "Why?"

Rise up, O Lord, come to their help.

Redeem them for the sake of your steadfast love.

Please, God: Heal your precious children.

Amen.

P.S., In case I may be an instrument of your healing,

I offer myself to you. Use me, O God, as your agent

of comfort, peace, and love. Amen again.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using the prayers found in the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.