Prayer of Lament
To the One who calls us Beloved,
we bring hurting hearts to you this morning,
our fearfulness, and our worry.
Our anger.
Our world is not as it should be.
The ones with power make decisions for their own benefit.
In a show of might, they flirt with war and destruction
but the most desperate among us are left to fend for themselves.
The proud and the comfortable say,
“Everything is fine. There is no problem.”
But those without privilege know better.
They hunger, they weep, they bleed.
They wait for your justice to vindicate them – before it’s too late!
In a world where hate is a virtue and exclusion a way of life
it is hard to hold on to what unites.
It is tough to find common ground.
Our humanity is lost in the scuffle.
Those of us who wish for peace forget how to make it
or where to begin
and fall into hopelessness, cynicism or despair.
We too begin to feel powerless
in the face of widespread suffering and systemic evil.
Even our planet seems ready to crack
under the pressure of forces that are beyond us.
Earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, volcanoes.
Nature groans – and with it, your people.
Come, Lord Jesus, we pray.
When will you come?
When will you make right?
We are not strong enough, not wise enough, not good enough
to make peace, to bring healing.
But you are,
You are the one who planted peace in our hearts.
You are the one who will make it come to pass.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Strengthen the bruised reed.
Make weapons into ploughshares.
Comfort the weary and heavy-laden.
Make a home for the homeless.
Still the waters.
Calm the storm.
Come, Lord Jesus, you and your kingdom,
Come.
On earth as it is in heaven.
Your will be done.
Amen.
~ written by Becky Bonham, posted on re:worship
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