Do not fear

what you are

            about to suffer.

...Be faithful unto death,

and I will give you

   the crown of life.

           Revelation 2. 10

(No one likes to talk

            about suffering.

But because we live

     in a broken world,

we should not

         be surprised by it.

But even in suffering,

       God is with us.

Even the hard stuff,

     God redeems.

God is holding us fast

     in it and through it.

We are not alone.

             God is with us.

Practicing the reality

          of His Presence,

     trusting Him even on

     the most ordinary days,

strengthens us for the now

            and for the next.

Fear not.

"Surely the LORD is in this,    

     and I did not know it."

             Genesis 28. 16)

O LORD,

Even in mystery,

    help us to trust You.

Even in what we

     do not understand,

guide us

       into Your design.

Even in the sufferings,

   grant us Your strength.

There is hope in You,

            O Almighty One,

that on which

    we can stake our lives,

not just for an end to hardship,

but there is You

       right in the midst.

 We need not fear.

You are right here with us,

for Your glory,

for Your Kingdom,

for Your name's sake,

and firmly in Your hands.