“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favour again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” (Psalm 77: 7-12)
We can connect with the ancient voice of faith as he experiences disappointment and despondency:
In the struggle back to what we recognise as normal;
In the impact of the pandemic on our lives and the lives of those we love;
In the prospect of future days and the challenges we face as your Church.
But that same voice of faith calls us to the deeds of long ago when You came with power among Your people to raise them up and take them forward.
In time there would be voices of faith calling believers to the Cross where the worst of human impulses were displayed and yet was the means whereby Your loving purpose for humankind was fulfilled.
So bring us to the Cross.
Where in the midst of our struggles we can be assured of Your presence;
Where in our weakness we can be made strong;
Where in our sin we can be forgiven;
Where even in face of death we have hope.
We thank you that even as the gaze of our Risen Lord reveals what needs to be changed still it holds for us a vision of what we can be and what we will be.
We thank you that even as we share the brokenness of humanity still by your grace we can show the fruit of the Spirit.
We thank you that even as Your Church seems to falter and diminish still You hold before us the promise that the earth will never be without a witness to Christ.
We thank you for those we have known now at rest who recognised their inadequacy and yet looked to the Spirit to renew and revitalise.
We pray for the world-wide Church that she will be powerful in her proclamation and consistent in her living.
We pray for the world that in a time when our limitations are recognised that the need for a Saviour will be intensified.
We pray for our nation enjoying new freedoms but required still to be cautious.
We pray for doctors, dentists, nurses and others in the medical world under constant pressure.
We pray for those whose work is to keep us safe: police offers, fire-fighters, government officials, locally and nationally.
We pray for those restricted by pain, burdened by anxiety, desolated by loss.
