Rev. David Community & Healthcare Chaplain

06/01/2026

05/21/2026

PSALM 88

A PRAYER FOR HELP.

Lord,
I am exhausted.
I feel like I have been crying out into silence,
like my prayers hit the ceiling and fall back down on me.

The nights feel long.
The weight I carry feels heavier than words can explain.
People see me standing, talking, smiling, working—
but inside I feel worn thin and close to breaking.

I feel forgotten at times.
Not abandoned by You completely,
but distant from Your comfort.
I keep asking where You are in all of this pain.

Some days I am surrounded by people
and still feel alone.
Some days my mind is tired,
my body is tired,
and even my spirit feels tired.

Lord, I bring You the parts of me
that I usually hide from everyone else:
the fear,
the anger,
the grief,
the questions I cannot answer.

I do not have polished faith today.
I only have honesty.

But even here—
in the darkness,
in the confusion,
in the silence—
I am still turning toward You.

Hold me together when I feel like I am falling apart.
Stay near to those who feel forgotten, grieving, depressed, exhausted, or overwhelmed.
Remind us that darkness is not the end of the story,
even when we cannot yet see the morning.

And until the light comes again,
teach us how to keep breathing,
keep hoping,
and keep reaching for You one prayer at a time.

Amen.

05/21/2026

Sesame Street teaches us about Freindships.

05/16/2026

God Is Present in Waiting Rooms

Scripture Reading

Psalm 46 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

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Devotion

Waiting rooms are strange places.

They are filled with silence, nervous pacing, coffee cups gone cold, whispered phone calls, and people trying to hold themselves together. Some are waiting for test results. Some are waiting for surgery updates. Some are waiting to hear whether life is about to change forever.

No one wants to be there.

And yet, some of the deepest prayers ever spoken rise from waiting rooms.

Not polished prayers.
Not church prayers.

Just honest ones.

“God, please help.”
“Please let them be okay.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m scared.”

The truth is, most of us want God to meet us on mountaintops.
We want certainty, victory, and clear answers.
But throughout Scripture, God often meets people in the middle of uncertainty.

In wildernesses. In storms. In prison cells. In hospital rooms. In places where people feel powerless.

A waiting room reminds us of something difficult:
We are not in control.

That can feel frightening.
But it can also become holy ground.

Because when control disappears, presence matters more than ever.

Sometimes God’s presence comes through a nurse offering kindness after a long shift. Sometimes through a doctor speaking honestly and compassionately. Sometimes through a family member refusing to leave. Sometimes through a chaplain sitting quietly beside someone who feels alone.

And sometimes God’s presence arrives in stillness — a peace that makes no logical sense in the middle of fear.

Faith does not always remove uncertainty. But it reminds us we do not walk through uncertainty alone.

If you find yourself in a waiting room season today — emotionally, spiritually, or physically — remember this:

God is not absent in the waiting.

He is already there.

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Reflection Question

Where have I experienced God’s presence during difficult or uncertain moments?

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Prayer

Lord,
In moments of fear and uncertainty, help us remember that You are near.
Be present with those waiting for answers, healing, comfort, or peace today.
Strengthen weary hearts. Calm anxious minds.
Help us become people who carry Your presence into difficult places through compassion, patience, and love.
Remind us that even in the waiting, we are never alone.
Amen.

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Rev. David Stenske
Community & Healthcare Chaplain