I lay down and slept.

I woke again,

   for the LORD sustained me.

I will not be afraid

  of many thousands of people

who have set themselves

   against me all around.

                 Psalm 3. 5-6

(What if I approached

this overwhelming situation

with the reality that

  the LORD is sustaining me?

Even in this,

He strengthens me in ways

   I am not even aware.

He breaks the teeth

               of my fears.

He releases me

   from their grip

and renews my strength

              with His.

God is still faithful.

Sometimes it takes adversity

  for us to realize that.

He is not about to

         abandon us now,

but to reveal a deeper dimension

                 of Himself

   we have not yet known.)

O LORD,

You surround us

    by the wonders of Your creation,

    by the amazement

       of Your love for us,

    by Your goodness

     in more ways that we know.

You also reveal Yourself

   in what is hard,

   and overwhelming,

   and far beyond our strength

             or understanding.

Help us

   to approach the ordinary

         and the extraordinary,

     the difficult

         and heart-breaking,

     both abundance

               and need,

 with an awareness of You.

We don't know what to do,

but our eyes are on You.

And that changes everything.

Help us to live and respond

                  differently

     with hope and strength

because we know You.

Even in this.