God.

We don’t want fiery ordeals.

We don’t want any ordeals, actually.

We don’t want to be anxious, we don’t want to be tested, we don’t want to have to be alert, we don’t want you to be gone.

Because we like to believe that if you knew what was going on, you would fix it.

If you knew what was going on, it wouldn’t be going on.

We don’t want to admit that you warned us that things wouldn’t be easy.

We don’t want to admit how much we want to know the dates and the times that you are going to do things.

We don’t want to admit that you actually promised us power.

We don’t want to admit that you want us to live with that power and that courage and that alertness and that strength.

God, on this day we ask you to give strength to the people called by your name who are dying for that name around the world.

On this day, we ask you to remind us that our suffering isn’t punishment,
our resistance isn’t futile,
the measure of your love isn’t our happiness but our blessing,
and the measure of your blessing isn’t our happiness but your presence.
On this day, we ask you to remind us of your calling to you.
On this day, we ask for your courage and encouragement,
for your peace and contentment,
for your healing and holiness.

We wait, with all those who know you in every part of the world.

Amen.

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A collection of prayers from last year, “God. We Need You.” A Year of Prayer in a Hospital Chapel, is now available for preorder.