Prayer to Be Sustained To Deal With The Pressures and Burdens Of Today
Sustained
As we’ve been mentioning for a few days now the number of the sick and dying are increasing on a daily basis. It’s a worrying trend. No one wants to see the health care systems overwhelmed but no one really wants a full-on lock down again either.
Part of the problem these days seems to be that people are tired of doing what’s necessary to contain the virus. We know what’s needed but we’re just tired of doing the extra work, depriving ourselves of this or that.
While we all wish that things could be different and that the virus weren’t with us or that a vaccine was already available instead of still being months down the road, we have wonderful invitations from God’s word to the weary in these days of trial and waiting. Listen to these words:
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26
God promises all of us refreshing, strength, power when we are weak, and giving us all we need when we are fainting from weariness. That could be frontline workers. It could be moms and dads who are trying to work from home, oversee education of their children, deal with financial pressures of an unknown future, care for aged loved ones at a distance. It’s pretty overwhelming for the average person trying to do the right thing the longer this season of the pandemic goes on. To everyone feeling weary today God’s word encourages to do this:
Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin. But you, God, will throw the others into a muddy bog.
Psalm 55:22
So let’s come to God for the strength and help we need today.
Heavenly Father,
What a kind and loving God You are. You’ve not turned your attention away from us in our troubles and moved on to some other planet in some other galaxy that’s more fun to deal with. You are right here with us, caring for us, making all of You love and power available to us today.
Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin. But you, God, will throw the others into a muddy bog.
Psalm 55:22
We feel the pile of pressures and burdens on our own shoulders today – some of it has to do with what is required of us in these days of social distancing and isolation as one wee slides into another. Our hearts are filled with thoughts and wonderings about what’s down the line – or what’s not down the line and there are so many who wonder how we will be able to take care of those we love and provide for them. Thank you God, for your offer to us today to pile our troubles on You and let you carry our load. We need your help. We need your strength. We need to lean into You today because we are tired.
I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls.
Jeremiah 31:25
Our hearts go out to all the frontline workers – doctors, nurses, technicians, cleaners, paramedics, lab techs, and so on who are still, after all these months, working above and beyond in terms of putting themselves at risk and putting in long hours. We pray for truck drivers, transit drivers, pharmacists, grocery store personnel, community nursing and home care support staff who support individuals in their homes, meals-on-wheel volunteers, food bank volunteers. These days we are adding in teachers and staff in daycare centers. We pray special blessing on all of them - people who are working long hours with limitations and restrictions that complicate their work.
Show them new and useful ways to do all that’s needed, we pray, Lord. God, in Your mercy hold back the spread of the virus around them. Give them strength to focus on the job at hand particularly at the end of a long shift when they are tired. Help them see little things that give them joy and gratitude as they work so hard. Help them to see You with them and experience Your comfort and reassuring presence.
Keep all of us aware, Lord, that our provision and our strength, and our ability to get through all of this comes from You. You pour out strength and grace and wisdom to many as we work together but ultimately, If you are not in it then even these efforts will flounder.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.
Isaiah 40:29-31
Lord when all else fails we will remember that You give power to weak and strength to those who feel powerless. You give power to those who are weak. Even young people become worn out and get tired. Even the best of them trip and fall. But those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength. They will fly as high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak. We trust you. We depend on you today. Amen
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