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A Prayer of Lament about the Covenant Presbyterian School Shooting

by | Mar 28, 2023 | Death and Resurrection, Grief

A Prayer of Lament about the Covenant Presbyterian School Shooting

Dear friends, in these days when words are hard to find for our grief, we make the words God has given us in his holy and loving Word our own. Please join me in an attempt at lament:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John1:5

O Lord,

“God of our salvation,

we cry out day and night before you,

Let our prayer come before you;

Incline your ear to our cry” (Psalm 88:1-2)

We bring to you, Oh Lord, our complaint.

This is the way many of us feel right now:

“For these things I weep;

my eyes flow with tears;

for a comforter is far from me,

one to revive my spirit;

my children are desolate,

for the enemy has prevailed” (Lamentations 1:16)

We ask for you to bring

your peace,

your love,

your comfort

and your healing

to all involved in this tragedy,

and to this entire world:

To the families of the victims

To the family of the shooter

To the children, family, faculty, and staff of Covenant Presbyterian School

To all the grieving and traumatized in the community

To the mentally ill

We urge you to bring your justice and peace to this world:

for the day of no more gun violence

for the day of no more evil

for the day of no more tears,

no more death,

no more mourning,

no more pain (Revelation 21:4).

Because of Jesus, we know that day is coming:

Even now, we proclaim this truth:

“The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.” John1:5

Even now, we pray,

“That we may have strength to comprehend

with all the saints

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ

which surpasses knowledge,

that [we] may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).

As we walk these days in the light of your love,

As we live toward the day of resurrection,

we hear you assuring us,

“Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7).

We cry out,

“Come quickly, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

We hear you respond,

“Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20).

In your tear-wiping name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 88; Lamentations; Revelation 21-22; John 1:1-18.

A Prayer about Hope in a Dark World

by | Feb 7, 2023 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Grief, kingdom living, Suffering

A Prayer about Hope in a Dark World

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

Father, 

I confess, 

sometimes the darkness of this world 

seems all-encompassing. 

The depressing news, 

the bent toward meanness, 

the joy in judginess

…I see it everywhere—

in my own heart and in the hearts of others. 

What good news it is to remember then, 

that we who are in Christ

no longer live in the “domain of darkness.” 

You have transferred us and transformed us. 

Now we have a rich inheritance: 

“the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:12). 

Now we are freed from the tyrant Satan 

to serve you, our redeeming and forgiving King. 

Now our primary language is “thanksgiving” 

and our primary work is “endurance and patience and joy” (Colossians 1:11). 

Now we have been “strengthened with all power, 

according to his glorious might” (Colossians 1:11).

to live as citizens of the kingdom of the beloved Son.

So very gratefully we pray. Amen. 

Read Colossians 1:9-14.

A Prayer of Lament for Those Who Die Young

by | Jan 27, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering

A Prayer of Lament for Those Who Die Young

He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!’ Revelation 22:20

 Merciful God,

We believe you to be merciful; 

help our unbelief.

We admit, 

we struggle to understand 

why you would take young people home 

when it seems to us 

they have so many more days 

to bear fruit here on this earth. 

Why, Lord? 

Why do you take children, 

a little girl who just professed her faith in you, 

a young man who just shared his testimony to his entire football team, 

a young woman who sang her love for you 

to all who would listen? 

We can’t understand. 

We hurt with the loss of young ones 

precious to us, 

precious to their friends, 

precious to their parents. 

We know. 

We know we are but dust. 

We know we are frail and fragile 

from the day you bring us into this world. 

And at some level, we remember that we were made for more. 

We were made for a life that will never end. 

We were made for eternal glory, 

to live with you in a home 

where there will be 

no more death, 

no more pain, 

no more sorrow, 

no more mourning. 

We know this. 

In these hard days of grief, 

open our eyes to see the day which you, 

dear Lord Jesus, 

promise is coming soon. 

The day when we will be gathered together 

with all those we have lost, 

infants and children and young adults 

and the very very old. 

In that day, 

we will see. 

In that day, we may not know “why” 

you took our loved one before we were ready, 

but we will see your face, 

and we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt 

your goodness, 

your mercy, 

your love, 

your kindness, 

and most of all, 

your joy. 

Until that day comes, 

fill our hearts with this eternal hope, 

because of the death and resurrection 

of Christ your beloved Son. 

In his compassionate name we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 26:36-46; Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 22:20-21.

A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

by | Jan 21, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering

A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

Comforting Father,

We lift up all who are affected by mental illness. 

Sadly, because of our ignorance about mental illness, 

many of the mentally ill suffer “secondary wounds.” 

Both the afflicted and their families have suffered

quick-fix by faith cures, 

condemnation of behavior, 

or exile from the body. 

As we look to our Lord Jesus, 

who came alongside the mentally afflicted 

and often healed but always cared, 

make us more like him. 

Help us to be sensitive, 

to consider the context of suffering, 

to listen well, 

to remember the hope we have to offer—

the incarnate, resurrected, and ascended Christ 

will one day come again 

to redeem and restore all broken bodies. 

How we ache for that day.

In Christ’s restoring name. Amen. 

Read 1 Peter 5:10; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 4:24; Romans 15:13. 

A Prayer about the Lord Who Delivers Us

by | Jan 9, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about the Lord Who Delivers Us

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7

Rescuing Lord, 

As we continue praying through Psalm 34, 

we see even more reasons to bless your name “at all times” 

as we prayed about yesterday: 

We were sprawled out on the sofa, 

choking on sobs 

of grief, of regret, 

of disappointment, of frustration, 

and you heard us. 

You heard us. 

And when you hear, you respond: 

you “saved [us] out of all of [our] troubles” (Psalm 34:6). 

Not some of our troubles. 

All of our troubles. 

You send your angel to “encamp” around us. 

We shouldn’t picture a chubby blond cherub 

or a pale-faced long-haired lady  

when we think angel. 

We should picture warrior of light, 

powerful, fearsome, 

mighty, messenger. 

And though Psalm 34 just mentions one angel, 

we should probably picture a whole army of angels 

setting up this camp around us 

to protect us, to deliver us. 

Yes, indeed, we do “taste and see that you are good!” 

And we do proclaim with David, 

“Blessed is the man [or woman] who takes refuge in you” (Psalm 34:8).

In Jesus’ delivering name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 34:6-7; Matthew 28:2; Hebrews 13: 2; Daniel 10. 

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

by | Jan 7, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer, Grief, kingdom living, Suffering

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Healing Lord,

Today we pray for all who have lost loved ones in the past year. 

We are camping out in the hope 

of the Day to come 

when there will be no more death, 

nor mourning, nor crying, 

nor pain. 

In these remarkable final chapters of your Word, 

you give us a glimpse of what that day will be like:

We will live in safety and our identity secure in you,

because you will dwell with us (Revelation 21:3).

We will see Jesus face to face, 

and his name will be engraved on our forehead (Revelation 22:4).

We will drink for free and we will drink freely 

from the river of the water of life. 

We will dine lavishly

 on the fruit of the tree of life (Revelation 21:6; 22:1).

We will marvel at your majesty, 

and we will long to serve you and no other (Revelation 22:3).

We will enjoy peaceful community 

of people from every tribe and tongue and nation (Revelation 21:4; 22:2).

There’s more, so much more, 

to that day 

which will last forever. 

We believe your promise, 

“Surely, I am coming soon,” 

and we cry in response, 

“Come, Lord Jesus.”

In your hope-giving name. Amen.

Read Revelation 21-22.