fbpx

A Prayer about Living in a Landscape of Loss

by | Oct 18, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Living in a Landscape of Loss

These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Merciful Lord,

Today we pray for all who find themselves living in a landscape of loss. 

Even as various hurricanes whipped through Florida and the East Coast of America, 

wrecking homes, ripping away roofs, and taking lives, 

others are facing disaster in their lives: 

a body-wrecking diagnosis, 

the ripping apart of a marriage by an affair, 

the frequent flood of tears over a rebellious teenager,

unholy wars destroying people and land.

Lord, in a landscape of loss, 

in this world filled with tribulation, 

you make a startling promise: 

you have overcome the world. 

You tell us “Yes, you will suffer in this world, 

but in my world, 

my kingdom, 

which has already come and will soon be consummated,

you will never suffer again. 

Everything lost in the fall will be redeemed. 

For this reason, we can 

“be of good courage,” 

“take heart,” 

“not be afraid,” 

for you have indeed overcome the world 

by your death and resurrection. 

How we look forward to the day of renewal that awaits.

In your restoring name. Amen.

Read John 16. 



A Prayer about Endurance in Suffering

by | Sep 26, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Endurance in Suffering

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1:9

Precious Jesus,

In your Word, and by your Spirit, 

you have given us everything we need 

to persevere in every seemingly new tribulation. 

Even today as we consider Christians 

suffering for their faith throughout the world, 

we are reminded that the apostle John, 

at eighty-four-years-old, 

was sent by the Romans to rot and die 

on the island of Patmos 

because of his “testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9). 

He speaks to your disciples who suffer today

 as a “partner in the tribulation 

and the kingdom 

and the patient endurance that are in Jesus.” 

As Bible scholar Graeme Goldsworthy puts it, 

“John does not urge his fellow-Christians 

to seek a means of escape from this tribulation, 

for he understood only too well 

that discipleship means suffering.”* 

Jesus, in light of the suffering of the martyrs 

throughout the ages, 

we pray that you would make us bold 

to partner with those in deep suffering, 

to persevere with the patient endurance 

that is our legacy as your sisters and brothers.

In your enduring name we pray. Amen. 

Read Revelation 1.

*See Graeme Goldsworthy, The Gospel in Revelation, 181. 

 

A Prayer about Praying in Stories of Suffering

by | Sep 10, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Praying in Stories of Suffering

She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke 2:36 

Answering God, 

How we thank you for the story of Anna, 

the 84-year-old widow who had known deep suffering. 

In her world, losing a husband meant losing everything — 

financial provision, status, power. 

And yet, Anna, who lost her husband after only seven years of marriage, 

by your grace, 

chose not to become embittered by suffering, 

staying close to you in the temple, 

listening to your Word, 

worshiping you, 

fasting and praying, 

“night and day.” 

May we follow Anna’s lead when life seems out of control—

When our adult children make decisions we disagree with,

When our grandchildren make mayhem of their young lives,

When our bodies make a mess of our plans to age gracefully….

Let us pray.

As we pray, our faith grows: 

we remember the countless stories of your redemption.

As we pray, our hope grows: 

we envision the redemption that will come in the midst of hard stories.

As we pray, our love grows: 

we live out Christ’s love in a way that invites the hurting to come to you.

In prayer, we learn to wait well for your redemption.

In prayer, we hear your astounding answer, 

redemption in Christ,

And we begin to pray again, 

thanking you for your kindness 

sharing the good news of Christ with others. 

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen.

Read Luke 2:36-38.



A Prayer about Endurance in Suffering

by | Aug 27, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Endurance in Suffering

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1:9

Precious Jesus,

In your Word, and by your Spirit, 

you have given us everything we need 

to persevere in every seemingly new tribulation. 

Even today as we consider Christians 

suffering for their faith throughout the world, 

we are reminded that the apostle John, 

at eighty-four-years-old, 

was sent by the Romans to rot and die 

on the island of Patmos 

because of his “testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9). 

He speaks to your disciples who suffer today

 as a “partner in the tribulation 

and the kingdom 

and the patient endurance that are in Jesus.” 

As one Bible scholar puts it, 

“John does not urge his fellow-Christians 

to seek a means of escape from this tribulation, 

for he understood only too well 

that discipleship means suffering.”* 

Jesus, in light of the suffering of the martyrs 

throughout the ages, 

we pray that you would make us bold 

to partner with those in deep suffering, 

to persevere with the patient endurance 

that is our legacy as your sisters and brothers.

In your enduring name we pray. Amen. 

Read Revelation 1.

*See Graeme Goldsworthy, The Gospel in Revelation, 181. 



A Prayer about Hope in Dark Valleys

by | Aug 1, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Hope in Dark Valleys

Even when I walk 

through the darkest valley, 

I will not be afraid, 

for you are close beside me. 

Your rod and your staff 

protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Lord, our Good Shepherd,

As we walk through dark valleys, 

valleys that feel like death, 

valleys that lead to death,

[Name some valleys you are currently walking through or have walked through.]

We will not be afraid,

[Name any fears you have felt.]

For you are close beside us.

[Name how you have known God’s presence with you.]

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort us.

[Name the protection from harm and the comfort in grief and pain you have known].

In the name of our comforting Shepherd, Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 

Read Psalm 23.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Trusting God to Deliver from Trials

by | Jul 21, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Trusting God to Deliver from Trials

The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials…. 2 Peter 2:9

All-Seeing God,

We confess, sometimes your Word seems to mock us. 

We read that you “rescue the godly from trials,” 

that you will “deliver…from the snare of the fowler…” 

and that danger will not come near your children (see Psalm 91:3, 7). 

And yet, daily we dodge fiery arrows shot by the evil one. 

Wise Pastor Spurgeon writes, “God loves the godly, or godlike, 

and he makes a point of knowing 

where they are and how they are.”* 

Stop us in our prayer 

to ponder this profound truth, 

massage it deep into our hearts and minds. 

You know where we are 

and how we are this very moment. 

Help us to believe that you know 

“whom to deliver, 

when to deliver, 

and how to deliver.” 

Help us to believe that you deliver in a way 

“that is most beneficial to the godly, 

most crushing to the tempter, 

and most glorifying to [your]self.” 

Help us to trust your goodness 

as we wait to see that goodness 

in the land of the living (See Psalm 27:13). 

Because of your Son 

who delivered us from all our sin and trials, 

we pray. 

Amen. 

Read 2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 91.

*This prayer was inspired by a devotion in The Promises of God by Charles Spurgeon, July 12. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker