Us-ness

Scotty Smith:  A Prayer for Coming Together in Hurt with Hope

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:1-7

Dear heavenly Father, until Jesus comes back, we, your people will live through all kinds of seasons together. Indeed, “there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heaven. A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:1,4).

But our life in Christ is not like life in the natural world. In the natural world our seasons predictably change, because our orbiting earth rotates on its titled axis. In Christ, our seasons providentially change, because we are a broken people in a broken world utterly dependent on you, our sovereign Father and redeeming Lord.

Because of you, merciful Father, we don’t have to wait for a summer drought to be over before we enjoy the colors and cool of fall. Harsh winters don’t have to cease before we can experience the wonders of a rejuvenating spring. For you come to us in every season. You aren’t subject to seasons. Seasons are subject to you. You are an every present help in times of trouble, periods of pain, moments of madness and seasons of sadness. Come to us now, Father, come to us today.

Because of you, mighty Father, the river of restoration and streams of grace flow to us even as “mountains fall into the heart of the sea… waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.” You cause real gardens to bloom in real deserts; you bring the gladness of the gospel into the agony of our pain; you bring the hope of your kingdom into our kingdom-size hurts. Come to us now, Father, come to us today. We hurt, we need your hope.

“The LORD almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Help us to embrace our “us-ness” as your people in seasons of trouble. Our hurt will either drive us to you, or it will divide us and separate us, and hurting people hurt other people. May we come before you on our faces with our pain, not get in each another’s faces, causing even greater pain. You are with us; we will not fall; you will help us at the break of day. So very Amen we pray, with hurt and hope, in Jesus’ name.