05/05/2023
Amen
First of all, 24-hour access to news is bad for us. Period. We were meant to carry the burdens of our friends, family, and close community, but now we also carry the weight of the worst of the whole world, at all times, in all places, and for all people. Thatโs a really heavy load, and it makes us sick to our stomachs sometimes. War. Famine. Natural disasters. Shootings. Theft. Human trafficking. Poverty. Political ineptitude and controversy. Unbearably disturbed humans doing disturbing things. Abuse of children. And, this list could grow longer just from what the news will cover today.
So what do we do with all this ugliness? How do we bear the weight of so much, all the time? What do we do when the news makes us sick? Well, a good place to start might be to consider this scripture and pray this prayer of lament. And then donโt feel bad if you need to step away for a little while.
๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
โThe world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and everโ (Revelation 11:15b, NLT).
๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐๐ค
True King of this universe, Creator of this world, Jesus who sits on the throne, we need you! So much feels broken and out of control. We thought you would have fixed things by now. Where are you? Did you forget about us? Have you gone blind to the pain and suffering in this world? Please make your presence known here and now. Surround us with your love. Fill us with your peace. Invite us to join you in mending what we can, as we await the fulfillment of your promise to make all things new. Amen.