With Groanings Too Deep For Words

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Oh Father, 

our hearts hurt. 
our minds reel. 

last monday morning on the other side of the world...
apocalyptic devastation
unforeseen terror 
unrelenting shock
cataclysmic tragedy.

hearing about it,
seeing images of it, 
thinking about it,
awakens an ache with unreachable end
sorrow too strong for words

it is too much to bear.
we want to look away in hopes it will go away

and even though we are not there and cannot imagine facing such a thing,
our souls cry out to You in desperation. 

we are without words and on our knees.
we pray.

we pray for the souls who are holding onto the last bits of hope and breath to be rescued, as so many miraculously have been already. 

help them hold on. 
help them to seek and find You. 
make them aware of Your loving presence and tender arms. 

we pray for those who are searching to be strengthened, for those who are sending help to be determined, and for those who are organizing efforts to be renewed.

help them hold on. 
help them to seek and find You. 
make them aware of Your unchanging might and generous provision. 

we pray for those watching from a distance to remain attentive and compassionate, unwilling to scroll past the pain of others. 

help them hold on. 
help them to seek and find You. 
make them aware of Your expectations of mercy and just heart.

we pray for those in the Body of Christ to be Your hands and feet in the coming days, months and years. 
may Your church be light in the darkest of days.

help us to hold on.
help us to seek and find You.
make us aware of Your goodness and truth.  

we don’t understand.
we cannot grasp it.

but there are truths we do know.

we know Your Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 
You are for us.

we know creation is subject to futility, but
You bore the weight of it on the cross. 
You have been through even worse for us- 
even worse than this. 

unspeakable grief
desperation 
separation
darkness
sorrow
fear
pain 

we know Your heart aches and longs for your creation and all who are in it, 
and though creation is subject to futility, creation will one day be set free.

we know You walked out of the grave.
so will all of those who call upon the name of the Lord.

help us grieve as ones with hope.
help us love as ones with compassion.
help us provide as ones who are heirs.
help us speak truth as ones who were once rescued ourselves.

may this disaster turn hearts and minds toward You. 

In the name of our Redeemer, our Rescue, our Living Hope,

Jesus Christ, 

Amen

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References

See Romans 8.