Prayers in Bad Times and in Suffering
Seeking Blessings, Compassion and Support in Rough Times
Life sure is tough these days, and things may not be getting better any time soon. This may be because personal illness (or that of loved ones) is keeping us downcast, or because of a whole array of confusing (possibly interconnected) world events that seem to be spinning out of control, causing immense suffering to countless people.
We are reminded that in all times and in all places, people’s hearts and minds have turned upward to the Lord of the Universe, who is at once infinitely Mighty and infinitely Compassionate.
I found two prayers at the back of the 1993 edition of a German Lutheran Hymnal. (Roughly translated into English, with the German original at the bottom of the post.)
They align well with a prayer included by Faith Doerr in her recent book, with echos back to King David pouring out his heart to God. So I am presenting all of these together in this post.
In Illness or Distress
God, this morning I call out to You.
Help me to pray and collect my thoughts, putting them into Your direction.
I can’t do it by myself.
Everything inside me feels dark—but inside You, I know it is light.
I am lonely—but You won’t abandon me.
I am feeling fainthearted—but I want to seek Your help.
I am unsettled—but I pray that through You I can find peace.
I’ve got nothing but bitterness inside me—but You have patience.
I don’t understand your ways—but You know the way you are taking me.
In Adversity or Affliction
Lord God, I find myself in a very bad situation. My worries want to suffocate me. I have no idea what to do.
God, show me some mercy and help me out! Give me the strength to carry whatever you are overloading me with.
Don’t let fear rule my life.
Help me to trust in Your grace. I want to give my life into Your hands.
Do as You wish with my life, do as You know is good for me.
Whether I live or I die, I am with You, and You, my God, are with me.
A Prayer of the Psalmist David
(Psalm 13)
How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Never forsaken, always refined
These reminders and this prayer were written by Faith Doerr, in her book God’s Encouraging Word—True Comforts when Worldly Advice Fails. (p. 109)
Everything bad is a result of sin.
Even in our worst moments, God will not leave us.
God can use moments of pain to help refine our faith, bring us closer to Him, and help us witness our faith to others.
We can praise God for His continual faithfulness.
Lord God, thank you for never forsaking me. While so often I feel like David, crying out that I feel hidden from You, I never am. Because of sin, we face unexpected evil and hurt, but You, God, have provided blessings throughout those hurts and an everlasting hope to sustain us through them in Your promise of an eternal life.
Thank you.
I pray that You continue to work all things together for our good. Help me to be a blessing to others who may be experiencing the same sufferings I face, and continue to refine my faith, bringing me closer to You.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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In Not und Krankheit
Gott, zu dir rufe ich am frühen Morgen. Hilf mir beten und meine Gedanken sammeln zu dir, ich kann es nicht alleine. In mir ist es finster, aber bei dir ist das Licht ich bin einsam, aber du verlässt mich nicht ich bin kleinmütig, aber bei dir ist die Hilfe ich bin unruhig, aber bei dir ist Frieden in mir ist Bitterkeit, aber bei dir ist Geduld ich verstehe deine Wege nicht, aber du weißt einen Weg für mich.
(Nr. 926, Evangelisches Gesangbuch. Evangelische Haupt-Bibelgesellschaft. Berlin. 1993. ISBN 3-88981-250-3)
In Elend
Herr Gott, großes Elend ist über mich gekommen. Meine Sorgen wollen mich ersticken, ich weiß nicht ein noch aus. Gott, sei mir gnädig und hilf! Gib mir Kraft zu tragen, was du schickst. Laß die Furcht nicht über mich herrschen. Ich traue deiner Gnade und gebe mein Leben ganz in deine Hand. Mach du mit mir, wie es dir gefällt und wie es gut für mich ist. Ob ich lebe oder sterbe, ich bin bei dir und du bist bei mir, mein Gott. (Nr. 927)
Amen.