Good Shepherd Lutheran

A Prayer for Tough Times
Father, in Psalm 139 you tell us: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful… My frame was not hidden from you… Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God!”
Indeed, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. But this world is hard. It threatens to crush us in many ways. Physically, we can’t always outrun the ailments of our bodies. Sickness and injury take hold of us, and we’re not always healed to our original state of health. Mentally, we’re bombarded and pulled at by unfiltered thoughts threatening to run away with our self-esteem.
Even spiritually, things aren’t always easy. You told us we’d have a battle in this life. As John 10:10 reminds us, “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy” But the very next verse tells us, “I have come that [you] may have life, and have it to the full.” So, help us to have confidence in that promise. Help us not to be discouraged. Bring our hearts to focus on Your Truth at the start of each day, expecting a battle, but also expecting deliverance.
We ask you to grant us the courage to be brave and courageous, but kind and compassionate at the same time. We are confident that can happen, but we know that faith and spiritual strength only come through discipline. They come through constant reading and studying of Your holy Word. They come through praying without ceasing and personal preparation.
While we still have the time, we know we must do more to get into the Word. We have to learn how to pray and understand what prayer does. We have to learn to walk in the Spirit. We never know what lies ahead, so we have to prepare for the worst even while we hope for the best.
Living for You, Lord, is tough right now. But in times of crisis, we know it’s harder still. So, guide us as we try to develop the spiritual strength and stamina we need. Give us a spiritual training mindset that will sustain us just like when we’re getting ready for a marathon or trying to fulfill that new year’s resolution to become more fit. We know that we must train if we want to be successful, even in our spiritual growth.
So, help us to get ready. Help us to memorize an extra verse. Pray for five extra minutes. Study scripture five minutes longer. Start devotions with our families.
We know that through You we can make the impossible possible in our lives as we seek Your will and your blessing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen