Gracious and Loving God,

We give thanks that we can rely on your grace and goodness. With
everything going on in this world and in our lives, we desperately need you. We turn on the TV only to hear reports of destruction and war. The scenes are filled with graphic, horrifying images. Then, we have to decide: are we drawn into watching the suffering of others, or do we turn the TV off? We pick up the newspaper, log in to our computers, only to see more tragic stories, more sadness, more hurting, more despair. Do we skip the article, gaze past the horror, divert our attention to happier, lighter topics, perhaps a funny meme?

Gracious and Loving God,

All the suffering is simply too much. It is terrible and confounding. Inevitably, we decide the problems are too great; the suffering is too deep, the solutions are too amorphous. We wring our hands in despair. The world’s ubiquitous problems are compounded by our own suffering — our first-hand suffering…the difficulties we endure in our own lives. We are distraught. Bad news from the doctor, insecure finances, paralyzing loneliness, broken relationships… It’s all too much. Where are you, God, in all of this suffering? We need you. We utterly and completely yearn for your assurances and promises to be true.

Gracious and Loving God,

Deep in our hearts and souls, we earnestly believe that you love us with a love more abundant and powerful than our human minds can comprehend or imagine. You have given us so much. You have given us life and all that is precious and worthwhile. You have given us people to love who, in turn, love us, which engenders a precious sense of belonging. Help us to see it, feel it, lean into it, as our salve while suffering continues to abound.

Gracious and Loving God,

We must confess that we don’t entirely understand why you don’t make all the trauma and hurt magically disappear. We can’t imagine a world where no suffering exists, despite hoping and praying that the day will come when all of us, in every facet and corner of this world, will one day be made whole — suffering will cease to exist. So, Precious God, we pray for guidance in mending this world. We pray to be a part of ending tragedy and suffering. We long to be catalysts for healing and peace. As we turn to you, strengthen our faith and our resolve that we may rest our weary souls in the hope of your assurances and promises that one day, all will be at peace, suffering will be no more, all will be made whole by your amazing grace and healing love.

In Your Holy Name We Pray, Amen

Rev. Mace Hall