We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 2 Cor. 1:8-9 (NLT)
Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to call you the God of Resurrection, for that is who you are. Death died and evil received a mortal wound the Day you raised Jesus from the grave. On your time schedule, everything sad will come untrue, and everything broken will be made new. Resplendent beauty will replace pervasive ugly, and everlasting symphony will silence all noise and dissonance. Ahhh… soon, Lord, please.
It’s because of your mercy and grace for us in Jesus that we freely bring to you the things that have the power to discourage and overwhelm us. Though the details differ from Paul’s story, we too know what it feels like to come to the end of our resources—emotionally, spiritually, and otherwise. So, forsaking self-reliance, we collapse on Jesus today.
We pray for church planters, missionaries, and pastors. Many are laboring in the face of evil, contexts of opposition, with diminishing resources. Blessed Father, grant your servants fresh grace, the encouragement of hope, and the power of your Spirit. The gates of hell will not prevail.
For some of us, summertime extended-family gatherings are more difficult than cross-cultural mission trips. Grant us thick skin and big hearts, Father. Some relationships are more like mine-fields than fields of clover. Help us love well in messy situations.
Some of us are reeling from a hard combination of difficult medical diagnoses and health insurance cancelations. Grant us grace, wisdom, and a good way forward, Father. Help!
Some of us are facing unexpected career transitions, others are struggling with sleep disorders; some us of have heavy hearts over children living as strangers to your grace, while others are grieving fresh loses or painful betrayals. Have mercy, Lord.
Most gracious and sovereign Father, empower us for praying without ceasing, hoping without doubting, and loving without fearing. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ triumphant and tender name.
