Be not far from me,

for trouble is near,

and there is none to help.

            Psalm 22. 11

(Read this verse of

    comfort and courage

               differently.

Not as our cry

      for God to come to us,

but as His call to us,

    "Be not far from Me."

How do we approach

      this difficulty,

     or this hard situation?

Either way,

   recognizing God is our help.

Knowing His promise,

       "I am with you,"

             changes everything

in what we do, what we say,

       and how we respond.)

O LORD,

May we stay by Your side,

walking with you

            even through this,

abiding with you

     in the joys and hard stuff.

Help us to not

             just sense Your Presence,

but to know You are with us.

Wrap Your courage around us

     and Your grace

to face both abundance and trouble

        with a heart renewed by You.