During the last year, we have faced trials from a pandemic. It has changed our world and our feelings of fragility, vulnerability, and fear. I know, and hope you do too, who guides our world, who knows the future, and who is our hope and salvation. We are never promised we will have a happy life in this world. We will face trials. How we choose to respond is key to our growth in the faith. It seems to me obvious that our Savior, who had no home, few friends, was rejected by many, even some in his family, and who was scorned by those of his day who ultimately thought they had won when Jesus was crucified, showed that God’s own Son suffered. Should we expect life to be a bed of roses with no thorns? Never.
MY PSALM 325 TRIALS
Dear Heavenly Father, Creator, yet Abba, Father,
Your rich blessings fall on me
Like the thunderous showers.
You drench me with Your love,
You saturate me with Your Presence
Whenever I call on Your Blessed Name.
From the desert of nonchalance,
You raise me to remembrance
Of noticing the big things, the little things,
And treating both with Thanksgiving.
You place in my life members of Your cloud of witnesses
Who nourish me with reminders of Your grace,
You remind me of Your constant Presence.
You bless me with those around me
In my very time of need and want,
And provide Oases of life-giving sustenance
When I most need Your grace.
Thank You for being a very present help
In times of distress, in moments of hurt
In moments of grief and sorrow,
In times of doubt.
Thank You for giving hope when things seem hopeless.
Thank You for being Creator of all good things
Prince of peace, and bringer of tidings of good news
When I languish, looking for answers.
Thank You for providing for the needs
Of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are hurting.
You have told us You will provide for our needs.
I have seen it first-hand these last months
When dear ones have been afflicted.
You have cared for them
You have allowed, yeah strengthened me to bless them.
I walk in confidence. Your Word is abundantly present,
Not just in times of old, but in these very moments of need
When reserves are depleted, and desperation seems real.
I pray for safety for these loved ones You have sent to me.
Guide their life-decisions, their thoughts,
Their resources, their paths,
And bring them to places of thanksliving
For having blessed them in their trials.
You have already blessed me by blessing them,
And I thank You for lessons learned.
Through troubled waters, You provide the Life-line,
The rescue, the steady hand,
And throughout, just as the Psalmist says,
“If I make my bed in the depths, You are there.[1]
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,[2]
If I settle on the far side of the sea, You are there.”
We have learned these last days,
“Your hand will guide me,[3]
Your right hand will hold me fast.”
Praised be Your Name in the storm,
And in the appearance of Your covenantal rainbow. Amen.
[1] Psalm 139: 8
[2] Psalm 139: 9
[3] Psalm 139: 10
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