"This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears'" (2 Kings 20:5, Isaiah 38:5).
Compassionate God, You are the Father of all comfort. You, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; You consider their grief and take it in hand (Psalm 10:14).
Lord, sometimes our burdens seem so heavy, our battles so wearying, our spirits so crushed. As life presses in we barely have the strength to cry out, like the psalmist, Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record (Psalm 56:8)?
Yet, You have assured us we are never alone. Even in the darkest valley, You are with us...; Your rod and Your staff comfort us (Psalm 23:4).
What an amazing privilege it is, Lord, to know that we can bring everything to Your throne of grace. And even more amazing to understand that You listen, that You care when we are laid low in the dust, when our soul is weary with sorrow (Psalm 119:25, 28).
God, today, we lift to Your compassionate comfort and care those in our circles who are walking through a dark valley. Old and young, near and far, we name them before You today.
We lift to You the tears of anguish, the tears of grief flowing out of broken hearts. We lift to You the tears of frustration, the tears of weariness flowing out of wounded souls. We lift to You the tears of despair, the tears of hopelessness flowing out of crushed spirits.
Your ears hear the silent cries for healing, hope, and relief. Your eyes see the deepest longings for freedom, release, and rest. Your touch finds the desperate searching for light in the darkness.
Our Father You see even the tears we cannot cry. We have Your assurance that The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). Draw near, O God, with Your healing presence, and whisper the words of comfort You sent to King Hezekiah, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears" (Isaiah 38:5).
Soft as the voice of an angel, Breathing a lesson unheard, Hope with a gentle persuasion Whispers her comforting word: Wait till the darkness is over, Wait till the tempest is done, Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, After the shower is gone.
Refrain: Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.
If, in the dusk of the twilight, Dim be the region afar, Will not the deepening darkness Brighten the glimmering star? Then when the night is upon us, Why should the heart sink away? When the dark midnight is over, Watch for the breaking of day.
Hope, as an anchor so steadfast, Rends the dark veil for the soul, Whither the Master has entered, Robbing the grave of its goal; Come then, oh, come, glad fruition, Come to my sad, weary heart; Come, O Thou blest hope of glory, Never, oh, never depart.
~ Septimus Winner ~ 1868
Comments