Trust When Life Is Hard to Understand

O GOD, who art unsearchable in Thy judgments, and in Thy ways past finding out, we bow before the mystery of Thy Being, and confess that we know nothing, and can say nothing worthy of Thee. We cannot understand Thy dealings with us. We have faith, not sight; when we cannot see, we may only believe. Sometimes Thou seemest to have no mercy upon us. Thou dost pierce us through our most tender affections, quenching the light of our eyes in dreadful darkness. Death tears from us all that we love, and Thou art seemingly deaf to all our cries. Our earthly circumstances are reversed and bitter poverty is appointed us, yet Thou takest no heed, and bringest no comfort to the sorrow and the barrenness of our life. Still would we trust in Thee and cling to that deepest of our instincts which tells us that we come from Thee and return to Thee. Be with us, Father of Mercies, in love and pity and tenderness unspeakable. Lift our souls into Thy perfect calm, where all our griefs are put to rest, and our wills are in harmony with Thine.

O Lord, remember each one of us in our need. Thou wilt not forget our dear ones who are sick. Many whom Thou lovest are ill in body or in mind. Heal them, we entreat Thee; and grant that after they have been afflicted, they may be comforted, and taste of those deeper joys that are purchased only with pain. Graciously bless our children. Lay Thy hand upon them, and grant that through the coming years, in joy or in sorrow, in health or in sickness, in all the changes of their life, they may live under Thine eye and in Thy strength, and rise into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Be gracious to those who bear responsibility, the toilers who win bread for wife and child. Let them not be crushed by the burdens which they have to carry. Sweeten every task; lighten every load with a sense of duty done, of love's command obeyed. Remember the aged. Smooth their declining steps. Help them to bear the infirmities of the years. Make the old man young again in spirit, that he may have a foretaste of the eternal youth of Heaven.

Immortal Father! the years are fast passing. Even as a vapour, our little life vanisheth away. O spare us that we may do some work for Thy sake alone! Let us not pass hence until, if it may be, through us a sinner shall be converted from the error of his ways, or an ignorant soul instructed, or a grief-stricken heart consoled and strengthened, or an outcast brought into the home and fellowship of the children of God. Our being is a great mystery, set between two eternities, and search we ever so deeply we can not know the meaning. We believe that life is ours in order that it may be the channel for Thy saving and recreating power; that our wills are ours in order that they may be made Thine. Let the dead past bury its dead. For the time that remains, consecrate us to the service of the living, and draw us to the spirit of Him who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. These petitions we make in His name. Amen.