My pastor’s blog this week is simply the entirety of Larry Stookey’s
prayer “in times of great distress due to natural disaster or humanly devised
evil” from his book, “This Day.”
God, our help and
hope in every time of life:
we bow before you in distress
and confusion.
Devastation and
death seem to rule your world today.
We know not where
to turn, nor even how to pray.
Assure us that you
know our thoughts before we think them;
that
you accept
petitions
that have no words,
prayers
that are inarticulate anguish,
even
anger in the face of events we do not understand.
Remind us of your
presence with Jesus
in
his hours of agony,
in
the face of abandonment by many whom he trusted,
in
the pain of crucifixion,
and
even in death itself.
Enable us to know
that you do not desert us
but
in times of need stand even closer than before.
Comfort those who
mourn.
Give hope to those
who seem to have lost all hope.
With your healing
power, touch any who are injured;
to
all medical and rescue workers
give
patient endurance, wisdom, and skill.
As you give us opportunity
to serve those in need,
grant
also generous spirits
and
the wise and efficient use of our abilities
in
offering aid.
If today our words
of praise are mute,
if today we find
it easier to curse than to bless,
point
us to the empty tomb,
which
lies beyond the cross.
Remind us that it
may be Friday now,
but
in your Providence Sunday’s coming,
and
your love will see us through
every
darkness,
every
doubt,
every
desolation.
For you, O God,
are our hope and strength,
an
ever present help in times of trouble;
to you we pray
through Jesus Christ
who
triumphs over all things. Amen.
(Laurence
Hull Stookey, This Day, pp 136-7)
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