The LORD has made

   everything for its purpose...

               Proverbs 16. 4

(Even in this,

nothing random,

nothing wasted,

nothing that cannot

   bring glory to Him,

bear fruit in His name,

or draw us (and others)

              closer to Him.

God is good

            and does good,

even beyond what we can see,

ever deeper than

        we can understand.)

O LORD,

Bring us through

this momentary affliction

that we can know another

   dimension of Your goodness,

   and a deeper intimacy with You.

Help us to reflect on You,

to exercise ourselves

          through the hard stuff,

not to be laid low by circumstances,

  but submit to Your deep purposes

            in whatever we face.

You, O LORD, are bigger than this.

Help us to not just seek

       Your goodness,

                       but You.

We will stand amazed

   even in the ordinary.