I called on Your name,

                O LORD,

from the depths of the pit;

You heard my plea,

     "Do not close Your ear

      to my cry for help!"

You came near

          when I called on You;

You said,

          "Do not fear."

          Lamentations 3. 58

(Even in what appears

as the inescapable

            pit of despair,

God sees us.

God hears us.

God loves us still.

God is working deeply,

       even in this,

       even through this.

Trust the slow work of God.

He is redeeming

    not just these circumstances,

            but our very lives.

We can hope in God

          for the "not yet."

We can stake our lives

                   on Him.)

O LORD,

Help us to trust You

    in this dark place,

  in this miry bog of despair.

We hold in our hearts

  the chronicle of

            Your faithfulness.

You love us

       and always have.

We all struggle with something

  because we live in

           a very broken world.

But You have given each of us

   stories of Your redeeming.

You are working still.

This situation is no exception.

You have not abandoned us,

   but are right here with us.

You say, "Do not be afraid.

                I am with you."

Even in this.

No circumstances change that.

Fear just blocks out

      all available light.

Help us to trust You.