When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19 NIV
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Prov. 12:25 ESV
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 ESV
Heavenly Father, something’s afoot when personalities on the Weather Channel become household names to us. What meteorological madness we’ve been living through lately. And it doesn’t seem like things are going to quiet down anytime soon, with even more storms brewing in the world’s oceans.
We own our fears, state our worries, and run to you, Father, on this angst-producing Friday. Thank you for promising to catch every care we cast in your direction. Thank you for speaking the “good word” we need when anxieties weigh our hearts down. Thank you for giving us consolation when anxiety is great within us, like it is right now.
We know we don’t have to ask “Why?” all these storms are coming to us—as though those in the cone of the hurricane are more of less deserving of major life-disruption. For you make your sun rise on the evil and on the good, and you send rain on the just and on the unjust (Matt. 5:45).
But most certainly, Father, things that threaten us—things over which we have zero control give us a chance to get quiet before you, own our vulnerability, and listen to your pursuing heart. Speak, Lord, speak clearly; speak tenderly; speak convincingly.
Though hurricanes are quite capable of separating us from things we love (houses and stuff, plans and dreams), nothing can separate us from your love. May this become profoundly real to us, Father, and palpably sweet. Only your love is better than life, and better than all the things we trust to define and decorate our lives (Psalm 63:3).
We do pray for protection in these coming hours and days, Father. Loss or property is one thing, loss of life quite another. And we pray for neighbor-love to trump self-preoccupation and self-preservation. Our country has never been more politically-divided, mean-spirited, and spite-filled. Rescue us, Father, rescue us… if not from the storm, by the storm.
May we who know Jesus be joyful servants, mercy conduits, and grace dispensers. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ great and gracious name.
