Prayer of Lament Incorporating Psalm 13

Prayer of Lament with For the Troubles (LUYH #663)

[Would you pray with me in song and guided by the words of Psalm 13?]

For the Troubles and Sufferings of the World (one time through)

Prayer

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

Lord our God, there is an abundance of suffering in our world and we sometimes wonder: Are you even paying attention?

To abandoned and neglected children?

To the elderly who are lonely for family or friends?

To the invisible poor, the homeless?

To those devastated by natural devastation and the results of environmental degradation?

To those raised in the church and near to our hearts who now live their own way without looking back.

Because we care, these burdens make us angry. And we don’t know what to do next. Help us, God!

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Lord our God, there is an abundance of suffering in our world and we sometimes wonder: Are you ever going to step in and fix this?

The despair and anxiety of mental illness.

The shame, regrets and grief that plague us in the day and steal our sleep at night.

The persecution of the weak by the strong, the poor by the rich, the powerless by those in power.

The temptation, sin and addiction that diminish us and destroy our relationships.

Because we care, these burdens make us angry.  And we don’t know what to do next. Help us, God!

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes or I will sleep in death;

my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

Lord our God, there is an abundance of suffering in our world and we sometimes wonder: Where exactly is your kingdom of justice and peace?

We don’t see it in racism and white supremacy and virulent forms of nationalism and populism on the rise in our world.

We don’t see it in careless speech, trolls and bullying on the internet, in our politics and on our playgrounds.

We don’t see it in churches and Christians who prefer silence, peace that is nothing more than the absence of conflict or cheap grace to the work of justice.

We don’t see it in ourselves, in our families, in our communities.  Where are you? Is your Kingdom really on the way?

Because we care, these questions make us anxious and angry. And we don’t know what to do next. Help us, God!

But I will trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD for He has been good to me.

When we are angry, remind us of your past faithfulness.

When we are angry, show us your present love and salvation.

When we are angry, turn us toward humility, courageous hope and gentle persistence.

Turn us to You, the only One who has ever managed to turn anger into forgiveness, wrath into salvation, and outrage into healing and who will one day, turn all this world toward righteousness, justice, and peace.

Amen