10/09/2024
A prayer from my dearest pastor friend, Joseph Cerreta, from Pasco county, Florida.
As things begin to ramp up wherever you are, please take a moment and pray this prayer with me:
"Lord, it's been a challenging season
But challenges do not change who you are.
It has been a season of storms
but storms do not change who you are.
It has been a season of loss,
but loss does not change who you are.
It has been a season of confusion, but confusion does not change who you are.
It has been a season of grief.
but grief does change who you are.
O unchanging, all-knowing, all loving, merciful Father, let this season lead us to a greater knowledge of you.
Help us to hold the things of earth with their proper weight in eternity.
May we take a breath in the middle of this moment of storms and chaos to
acknowledge the truth that we ordinarily ignore:
Only you are able to control the outcome of our lives.
We can not!
Only you are our source of our peace and joy, nothing else, no one else, just YOU.
Without You, we are hopeless, left terrified and helpless, in the face of on-coming storms.
in life, both natural and spiritual.
In this moment, let us see with absolute clarity that we are utterly dependent upon you!
And that is enough, because you never change.
You are good.
You are faithful.
You are kind.
You are full of mercy,
You are our shield, our banner, our defense.
You are our rock in times of trouble.
You are our peace and shelter in every storm.
You are our comfortor.
You will never leave nor forsake us.
You are love.
When we reach the end of our own strength, let us collapse gratefully, like children into your embrace, trusting fully in all that You are."
AMEN.
