Prayer To Face Today By Finding God In Our Place of Weakness

During these long months of restrictions and lockdown we aren’t quite sure what we feel but certainly part of what seems to be the experience of many is a sense of something missing.  I saw an article on my news feed the other day about what impact a year- or an extended period of time -  without hugs has on a person – and that certainly is the experience of some folks in long term care facilities isn’t it. 

How do we feel incomplete these days?  What are we missing or feeling like we are lacking?  God wants us to bring these experiences to Him and allow Him to show us a way forward.  How can we become complete in God, lacking nothing even during these challenging times?

As strange and simplistic it might sound the basis is to remind ourselves that God is good, our Good Father, and He knows what we need today.  It’s about focusing on today and not on a long unknown future.  In this season of lockdowns and fluctuating case numbers it’s very draining to think about weeks or months still of significant impact from this virus on our movements and relationships.  So, we need to bring ourselves back to a manageable slice of time and from God’s perspective, that’s focusing on today and leaving tomorrow for tomorrow.

So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.  Matthew 6:31-34

That’s easier said than done, isn’t it?  I don’t know about you but I feel inadequate for the task.  I’ve had enough of one day looking like another and never quite knowing which day of the week it is – moving from one screen to the next to work or watch a program or read a book etc.  I’d like a bit of variety, wouldn’t you?  I’d like to be able to sit down and visit with friends again.  It’s a challenge to wake up some mornings and put my feet to the floor with expectation of a great day when it just seems like “more of the same.” 

But, our Heavenly Father knows our limits.  Do we believe that?  His promise is that if we will endure during times just such as these and keep our faith in His goodness strong and focused, we will become perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  James 1:3-5

Clearly, He knows that we can’t quite do it on our own otherwise we wouldn’t see the words there, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.”  So let’s do that today shall we?

Heavenly Father, You arrived at today before we got here and prepared everything we will need.  You satisfy the deepest needs in our lives today with your words of truth and blessing.  Open our ears to hear what You are saying so we can experience the wonderful day you promise and not just survive but thrive.

We're in this together with You and with one another.  Help us to focus on just this day.  As we reminded ourselves, looking into the long unknown future with so many potential times of hardship is pretty draining.  Help us to not do that but to focus on how to make this day with You a time of blessing and service and joy.  Help us to trust Your generous heart to provide for all that we need today.    Help us to look beyond ourselves and to take every opportunity today to bless others.

Help us to live in gratitude for all that we have and not be caught up in the fear of what we may not have tomorrow.  You promise abundance as we put You and Your kingdom first.  It may come in a different form than we expect or from an unexpected source but we can trust You to be there for us through the whole length of this time of social distancing, no matter how long it turns out to be. 

Thank You God for a life with You that is stable and sure even though circumstances are anything but.  You are with us.  We don't face our problems alone.  Together with You, any difficulty can be worked out and overcome.    Just for today we will be joyful, optimistic, and grateful.  We're going to do our best to take time to notice the gifts in ourselves, in others, and in our surroundings even though things are less than perfect.  Amen