He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Isa. 43:2 (NLT)
Lord Jesus, thank you for perpetually presiding at a throne of grace, and for doing so with burden-bearing love and all-welcoming kindness. When we feel like “fragile reeds” or “flickering candles,” you don’t resent our weariness, roll your eyes, and tell us to “suck it up.” You promise rest for the weary, not more coaching. Thank you so much.
We bring you our blahs and burdens generated from ordinary and complex relationships. No aspect of our lives is more delightful and depleting than the calling to love well. As parents and spouses, friends and workers, employers and neighbors, grant us thick skin, big hearts, and more grace.
We bring you our fatigue born from stories of grief and loss, transitions and addictions, care-giving and criticism-taking. Jesus, help us accept the “okay-ness” of emotional and mental tiredness. And help us own our physical limits and the reality of spiritual warfare.
We bring you the weight we feel from having longer “to do” lists than hours in the day. Sometimes the sheer demanding-ness of life makes us want to buy a one-way ticket to a faraway place. But since that would solve nothing, we ask for wisdom and grace to choose between the critical things and lesser things.
We bring you the disappointment of interrupted vacations, the pestering voice of vain regrets, and our everyday propensity to forget the gospel. Grant us the perspective of eternity; along with heart-centering, joy-fueling refreshment.
Jesus, make your beauty and love simply unavoidable and irresistible to us. Keep us from running to caffeine and sugar, whine and wine, the approval of people and the lust for more. We trust you for all the grace and encouragement, repentance and strength we need for today. So very Amen we pray, in your kind and trust-worthy name.
