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.
I’ve been complacent, Lord,
my faith shallow,
ill-thought-through,
comfortably assuming that whatever life brings,
everything will be all right.
It will, of course, in the context of eternity,
but in terms of life now,
it’s a different story,
for you do not promise your followers any less trouble than the next person,
nor guarantee that anyone,
no matter how deserving,
will be immune to this world’s trials and tribulations.
I’ve grasped that with my mind,
but in my heart I foolishly imagined otherwise,
daring to believe that you will protect me from every danger,
whatever form it might take.
Teach me to trust,
not that you will deliver me from harm,
but that you will support me through it,
however testing it may be,
and that nothing in earth or heaven,
life or death,
will ever be able to separate me from your everlasting love in Jesus Christ our Lord,
the same yesterday,
today,
tomorrow
and always.
Amen.