Prayer for Strength As We Face Adversity

Friday June 12, 2020

Lies

COVID – FACING ADVERSITY

With all the focus on the struggles against racial discrimination, some of the bluntness of the adversity many individuals and families are facing as a result of lost work and change because of COVID-19 has slipped to the distance in our thinking. Just because we are thinking about other things hasn’t taken the pressure and challenge from the experience of many so we want to pray for them today and trust God to strengthen them and provide for those who face adversity. Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father we want to pray today for those who face adversity. We know that it comes in various forms and impacts people in different ways. For some the most adversity has been in being separated from loved ones, laid off from their work, trying to find a new rhythm with their kids. For some the adversity is just the day to day mundane of everything being the same. Others are facing real financial crisis, a threat to being able to continue to live where they live, to having work to return to even as things reopen and a number of businesses open their doors. For some families the issues of addiction and violence have been brought to the forefront during these weeks of lockdown. There is still so much adversity and uncertainty for the majority of the population.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD,

the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4

We thank you Lord that in the middle of it all, You are You are our rock and we can trust in You to keep us steady and secure. It's hard to trust when the pressure is increased but You promise to give us perfect peace if we will keep our minds fixed on You, and our hearts trusting in You. You will show us a way through. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to trust.

We pray to be able to live and speak as Paul did when he wrote the words:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12-13

While we may not be as resilient as Paul was; we want to grow in this. You give us what we need. You give us strength. We can face whatever we need to face because You are with us and working in us. Help us to take the moments to pause and bring You into focus, particularly when the pressures around us or inside us are escalating. It's much easier to focus on the problem and the pressure but with the help of Your Holy Spirit, we can train our hearts to seek You in the moment and You've promised that when we do that You will always be there to be found.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,

after you have suffered a little while,

will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 5:10

And Lord if all we can do today is to hang on until whatever the adversity is that needs to pass, then simply help us to hold on knowing that suffering is only for a little while. It always feels like "forever" when we are in pain but we ask for Your grace to endure and faith that You will restore us and make us strong, firm, and steadfast.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials

of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces

perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that

you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

So, we really do want the adversity to be dealt with both around us and in us and we ask for that today. Would you sort out the problems, show us how to stand strong and walk with certainty in the steps we are meant to take today, and at the same time to grow in this challenging grace of considering our trials as opportunities for joy and for growth in faith and perseverance. In whatever ways the trials we face are meant to help us grow and be mature and complete then we welcome Your changing us as well as changing the challenges. We are in Your hands and You are loving and kind, not giving us more than we can handle.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7