Prayer for Comfort in God’s Love

The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. Thou art my Rock, and my Fortress, and my High Tower, and my Deliverer. Thus I sigh, O my God, in my sorrow and anxiety of soul. O Lord, Lord, Thou knowest well how sad is my heart, how full of sorrow and pain I am. But I know that if Thou sustain me, this burden cannot overwhelm me. O do not hide Thy face from me any longer. I am oppressed; undertake for me. From my youth up Thou hast shown me much love and goodness. O embrace me with Thy love in this hour of my soul’s affliction. The sheep, pursued, flees to its shepherd; the child, frightened, comes to its father; therefore I come to Thee, my Shepherd and my Father.

O great God, Thou hast promised to help me, and hast said: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” And now, O mighty God, I need Thy help; be with me; leave me not, neither forsake me. I know that I am not forsaken; for Thy love is so tender, that Thou must have mercy upon me. Thou hast loved me with an everlasting love, and with loving kindness hast Thou drawn me. Embrace me now with the arms of Thy love; hold me up, that I sink not; refresh me in my affliction; make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Give me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Let Thy love and goodness, which others have so often extolled, be manifested also to me, that I with them may praise Thy glorious name. O Thou God of love, seal in my heart the blessed assurance that, as little as a father can forget his child, so little hast Thou forgotten me. Faithful Father, behold Thy child is sorrowing; comfort it: it is full of anxiety; be merciful and help it. Amen.