From my forthcoming book Still, Still with Thee, scheduled for publication next year, a prayer of hope and trust for both the dark days of winter and the dark days of life.
Look, winter is over; the rain has stopped and disappeared. Flowers carpet the earth. The
sound of birds singing and the cooing of doves fills the air.
Song of Solomon 2:11, 12
When winter comes and life feels bleak;
when each day deepens the dark night of the soul;
when frost chills and the north wind is piercing;
when snow lies thick and my heart shivers;
when the hours of darkness seem long
and daytime all too short;
when the skies are black and the clouds heavy;
when the rain pours and floods rage;
when the world feels dank,
dreary,
depressing;
when my spirit groans within me;
when I look, longingly, for signs of life,
the promise of spring,
the warmth of sunshine;
reach out, Lord,
to hold,
to support,
to encourage,
to comfort,
to rekindle,
to refresh,
to revive,
to renew.
Remind me that you are God of the bad times as well as the good,
of testing moments as well as easy,
and assure me that,
whatever life may bring,
you will be sufficient for all my needs,
and lead me from winter into spring.
Amen.