Praying For Those Discouraged By Disastrous Events Of These Days

It’s easy to feel discouraged.  This is the month of rain and gray days here in British Columbia.  What a season it has been with “atmospheric rivers” and landslides and flooding.  Pictures have not just gone across Canada in recent days but around the world of the flooding and road washouts so many are dealing with.  With being back on standard time for a couple of weeks now we have darkness settling in by mid afternoon.  Covid-19 is still around.  Flu season is upon us.  So many things press in around us.

We pray together often about discouragement and it just seemed like it was time to circle around to this theme today and to remind ourselves of God’s care for us and His comfort and support that is close to us today. 

So, let’s come to God and allow Him to address any discouragement we are experiencing in any area of life.  Let’s strengthen ourselves and pray for one another to remember that God is with us to encourage us.  Let’s make a choice to hang onto His goodness as we go through these discouraging times. 

Thank You Lord that those who hope ….

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Isaiah 40:31

We particularly pray that for those who have not just temporarily been displaced from their homes due to flooding and fires but who have actually lost everything.  We can’t imagine how hard it must be for them to continue to hope in You Lord but we know that is what’s needed for them to find strength and not grow weary with all they are facing. 

We all need our strength renewed these days and so we invite You to fill us with the power of Your Spirit to live well today and do what’s right today and trust You for whatever tomorrow and next week bring.  Help us to find joy in this day, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves because joy in You is our strength. 

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 31:24

We clearly don’t have all the answers about any of the wider community issues of our time or even in things personally that we face.  We don’t always see how things all work together for good as Your Word promises us, but if we trust that if we will just do our part, stay strong, and hope in You, we will see the way forward to all that You have in mind … and that will be good.

Your word tells us to:

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22

And so we want to bring the weariness of things not being as we would wish they are today to you, the burden of the pressures , the extra thinking and planning to prepare for unknowns and ever changing circumstances,– all the burdens that weigh us down today. 

We lean into You so you can sustain us.  We rest in You so we can stand straight and strong while the storms pass by around us.  We are comforted today that You care and that:

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits   are crushed.  The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.   Psalm 34:17-19