Dear Heavenly Father,
Sometimes we can only thank you with our words and not our feelings. We know that you are loving and kind; we know that you are all-powerful; yet we feel troubled, confused and sad. Terrible things happen to lovely people and we don’t understand it. We don’t like it; our spirits droop; we taste salt tears; we spend hours turning over distressing situations in our minds and we lose our joy.
Lord, many people from Rowheath are mourning just now. Babies, children and young men have died. Families are bereft. Parents are wracked by grief and widows weep. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, baptisms that might have been will now not take place and funerals are planned instead. The year that started full of promise has already withered, for some, to pain and loss. Yet, Lord, although we cannot sing spontaneously of our delight in you, we can and we will proclaim our faith. We don’t understand but we do trust. We know you are powerful. We know you are good. Sometimes it’s impossible for us to reconcile those two truths but we can and we do cling to them. You are powerful; you are good.
Lord God, thank you for making us in your own image so that we can experience joy and pain, creativity and love. Thank you for the historical truth that Jesus wept at the death of his friend. Thank you for the unspeakable comfort of a loving friend to sit with us in times of grief. Thank you for the promise of a heaven where all is good and secure and where death has no place or power anymore.
Father, whilst we remain in this fallen world, may we provide a little moment of heaven for those around us who are in some kind of need. Whether it’s a meal, a phone call, a drive to the shops, a donation in the foodbank, a shoulder to cry on; a walk in the park, an evening of child-minding, a cake, a daily prayer or something else, may we see the need and meet it.
And Lord, all around the world this week, would you please bless the peace-makers. Protect and prosper the people who are working to bring relief in areas of disaster or war. Still the guns, Lord. Calm the storms. Reconcile the enemies. Feed the hungry. Water the crops and dry up the floods. Heal, comfort and provide for the sick. Spread your kingdom.
Father God, we cry out to you for this broken, bruised world and its grieving, damaged inhabitants. Bring healing, Lord. Bring comfort. And Lord, where each of us can offer a part of that comfort and healing, please give us the courage and confidence and love actually to do it.
We ask this all in your precious name.
Amen.