A Prayer from my Heart

Lord, you are in charge of all things. You have a plan, even if I can’t see what it is. You are able to work all things for good, even the most horrific. I am finding myself in a time and place where I don’t know what to do or who to follow. I am horrified that the schools are requiring parents to report on their Thanksgiving activities. I am appalled that one positive covid-19 test is enough to shut down a whole class and that just a few more will shut down an entire school. I am puzzled that the hospitals are “overrun” but there was so much empty space and so much excess staff when we were in the hospital. I am unsure where to get the news, who to listen to, who to follow, and what to do about the injustice I see around me.

I turn to you, Lord. You are the one to follow. Your word is what I should listen to. Your justice is what I should seek when I see injustice around me. You created the world. You have seen every event since its beginning all the way to its end. You know the stars by name, yet you also know the number of hairs on my head. I will look to you for answers, for hope, and for faith. You give the gift of faith and with that gift comes hope – hope that you will change things for the better; hope that no matter what happens you can use it for the good of those who love you. Just like you did with Joseph: he was hated by his brothers to the point they plotted to kill him, but they changed their minds and sold him into slavery in Egypt instead, faking his death to their father. This is the ultimate in family dysfunction, but you had a plan which allowed Joseph to rise to prominence in Egypt, interpret the dreams warning of famine, and have the discipline to prepare an entire nation for a time of suffering. This led to Joseph being reunited with his brothers, showing them forgiveness, restoring the hope of his father, and saving not one but two nations from famine.

I pray for our country and the profound dysfunction we find ourselves in. Like children being fought over by divorcing parents, our businesses and schools are suffering just like Joseph suffered when his brothers threw him into the well and he didn’t know what was going to happen. Like Joseph, we are in shock and disbelief at the situation in which we find ourselves. We struggle to get out but feel like it’s hopeless – until the rope is dropped down to pull us out, only to face an even worse fate with even more uncertainty.

Lord, check our pride. Joseph’s pride was so unbearable to his brothers that they actually wanted to kill him, but our country’s pride and arrogance is even worse than his! Reveal to us humility and guide us in the paths of right living. Free us from relative-truth, from murder, from an anything-goes perspective on sex/marriage, from a desire to fit-in-at-all-costs. Free us from being a pawn in anyone’s game but yours, Oh God. Your plan for those who love you is for good, not evil. No one cares for us and loves us like you.