“I cry out to God—I scream His Name. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.
I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!
I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now.
Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.”
But then...
I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.” Psalm 77
This is a real prayer written by a real person living in the real world. Father, I know that You are big and powerful and Strong and true. And I know that if You can defeat an army of soldiers by caving in an ocean to take them out in one fell swoop then You can sustain me this day. This flawed, small human being is being held together by a great and loving King. The only God. There is no one else like You. Therefore, in whatever state I am in I can run to You, Father. Give strength to the weary and the ones who hurt and the ones who are tired and the ones who still feel the dull, pounding ache of loss or the sharp pain of loneliness. Spirit of God, remind those who feel lost that You are their God and that Jesus came to reverse this pain and one day He will fix it. Help them to hang on. Flash the lightning of memory and give them the images of You parting the sea and making a way where there seemed to be no way. A pathway through mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there! But You know the way when we can’t see it. Help us to see Jesus, hanging on the cross, sharing in our pain and bearing the weight of the world on Himself and then getting up and walking out of that tomb. Nothing can defeat Him. And nothing, not even death can separate us from Your Love in Christ Jesus.
Lord give us faith.
Faith in You.
Turn Your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
AMEN
I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.” Psalm 77
This is a real prayer written by a real person living in the real world. Father, I know that You are big and powerful and Strong and true. And I know that if You can defeat an army of soldiers by caving in an ocean to take them out in one fell swoop then You can sustain me this day. This flawed, small human being is being held together by a great and loving King. The only God. There is no one else like You. Therefore, in whatever state I am in I can run to You, Father. Give strength to the weary and the ones who hurt and the ones who are tired and the ones who still feel the dull, pounding ache of loss or the sharp pain of loneliness. Spirit of God, remind those who feel lost that You are their God and that Jesus came to reverse this pain and one day He will fix it. Help them to hang on. Flash the lightning of memory and give them the images of You parting the sea and making a way where there seemed to be no way. A pathway through mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there! But You know the way when we can’t see it. Help us to see Jesus, hanging on the cross, sharing in our pain and bearing the weight of the world on Himself and then getting up and walking out of that tomb. Nothing can defeat Him. And nothing, not even death can separate us from Your Love in Christ Jesus.
Lord give us faith.
Faith in You.
Turn Your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
AMEN
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