A Prayer in Pain

God of the broken
of the marginalized
of the sick
of the pained.

We cry out to you,
as we confront the darkest, deepest pain and evil of our world.

We find ourselves face to face
with the dysfunction,
the heartache,
the brokenness,
both the consequences of our actions
and the realities of an imperfect world;
both the pain we cause
and that we simply suffer.

We can do no more than to cry out.
“How long O Lord?”
“My God, My God why have you forsaken us?”
“Come to our rescue”
“God have mercy!”

The brokenness and fallenness baffles us,
confuses us,
hurts us
brings us to tears.

“Why is it this way? Who made it this way?
Who causes minds to be broken and evil to take root?”

Our awareness of this brokenness
stands as a signpost
signaling another reality,
a reality that should be.
And as we cry out in anguish, in pain, in confusion,
we also cry out in hope.

That you are working to make all things new, even when we don’t see it.
That maybe you can use us in that creative work?

Help us
to love the broken,
mend the wounded,
and love those who don’t or can’t love in return.

As a sign and a foretaste of your Reign

Amen.