Monday, April 14, 2014

Dear God,

How can we keep our hearts clean from judgement, resentment, and bitterness?  How can we best handle life's hurts, disappointments, and injustices without turning them into something larger that painstakingly robs us of good moral character, hope, and peace?

It is true that we suffer from loss in life.  We feel pain and sorrow.  We can even feel anger. These are normal emotions that arise when something happens that knocks us off our feet.  Sometimes these are great woundings caused not only by our own failures but also by selfishness of others.  How do we rise from our fall to exhibit faith at its best?

You are our only hope, dear God.  You are our only salvation.  You provide comfort, courage, wisdom, and strength.  You take our hand and walk with us.  You show us the great benefits of following you.  We do not have to deny what has shaken us but you offer us more than our discouragement, shame, and mourning. You take our deep misfortune and you reveal how grace can dramatically change our situation.  You reveal the ways in which you can turn our situation upside down revealing your power to restore and renew us. Sometimes you are the only one who can heal us and you are always ready to do so.

Help us remember
your many kindnesses
to us.
Teach us
to dig deep
in the soil
of forgiveness
so we
may discover
the resources
for our
own healing
and wholeness.
Direct us
to faith,
the lively sustenance
of heaven,
so we
may display
the fruits
of your spirit,
I pray.

Love, Andrea