A prayer in time of trouble
Holy Father, my Ethel is going through another very
distressing time and I need to ask your help. Like millions of other
chronically ill people she is weary of the struggle and you must know
very well how it is for those of us who love her to have to watch it for
you love her also. We fully accept that being part of a human family
you are working to redeem and glorify means we share in the universal
hurt and since we are at peace with you in Jesus Christ we have no
quarrel with you and feel no need to defend ourselves against you as
though you were our enemy rather than our Holy Father who is very fond
of us.
We've not asked for exemption from illness or death or
heartache when it comes and we're not asking for it now, only that you
would make your loving presence known in a more manifest way that can be
felt by two of your emotionally weakened children who at this time are
longing for such an assurance. We recognize too that there are countless
poor souls who suffer without such a comforting blessing and if some
sense of "distance" is to be part of this entire experience then so be
it. And if that be the case and we are to have a deeper understanding of
the hurt of this whole groaning world that senses that "distance" and
your apparent absence, then we pray that you be especially near us so
that your peace will guard our hearts in a very difficult time and that
not only will we love you still cheerfully and be bound more closely to
one another in dependence on each other but that in some way others will
be blessed.
The test results will be what they will be and we long
to be what we can be so long as we are assured that you are who and what
you are. Of that we're sure in light of the Christ and we ask you to
help us to maintain that clear vision in our hearts.
ethel and jim mcguiggan
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.