Here’s another prayer that may help you to find words to articulate some of your thoughts and fears when you’re struggling to pray during these dark days of the coronavirus pandemic, and remind you that, however much it may feel like it, you are not alone.
Why, Lord?
Why have you let this happen,
this dreadful virus descend upon us?
Yes, I know the whole business is a manmade disaster,
not down to you,
but can’t you do something,
anything,
to offer a helping hand?
Why do you seem simply to sit back,
unmoved,
unconcerned.
Don’t you care?
Aren’t our prayers reaching you?
I’m not being fair, I confess it,
for I’m well aware you’ve made the world in such a way
that you cannot simply intervene when it suits you;
that your hands are tied by laws you’ve set in place.
Yet I’m asking you,
I’m pleading with you,
look kindly upon us,
and reach out to our hurting world,
ministering your love
and binding up its wounds.
Amen.