I often struggle with asking for healing. It’s an occupational hazard, I suppose, of seeing so much death.

But I often will say to God, “Let them know how much you love them and that you are here.” I didn’t realized until yesterday that I’ve been using words that Paul used.

In a letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul’s been addressing questions he knows they are asking. We don’t see the questions, but we read the answers.

And then, as he’s wrapping up, he asks them to pray for himself, Silas, and Timothy. He acknowledges that they have resistance, and that the people he’s writing to also are facing resistance from evil.

He talks about his confidence that they will follow the teaching he’s received from God and taught them.

And then these words: May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the perseverance of Christ. In the face of every bit of resistance and evil and chaos, and in the world and in our daily worlds. In the swirl of our questions and uncertainty.

May God remind your hearts that God loves, and is love, and loves you. May God remind your hearts that Jesus faced abandonment and misunderstanding and abuse and people who did not listen and friends who died, that Jesus in this life persevered. And not because he had cute sayings on the wall, but because he was living out that deep love of God all the way to the end. And now beyond.

I know it’s Monday. And that this week will be whatever it will be.

I know that friends are dying and are facing failing bodies and minds. I’m seeing you as I write. And I know that other friends are living and have new life forming between them and within them.

And for all of us this week, I join Paul in this prayer:

May the Lord direct our hearts to the love of God and the perseverance of Christ.

Amen.