@font-face {font-family: »Cambria Math »; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Aptos; panose-1:2 11 0 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 3 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent: » »; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family: »Aptos »,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: »Times New Roman »; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}span.small-caps {mso-style-name:small-caps; mso-style-unhide:no;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family: »Aptos »,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: »Times New Roman »; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}.MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}Why are you far away, Lord?
Why do you hide yourself when I am in trouble?
– Psalm 10
Sometimes,
that’s just how I feel, Lord!
I
feel like you are far, far away
when I’m in trouble
and when I need you the most…
Of course, I know that part of the problem
is my praying, hoping, wanting and wishing
that you’d solve all my problems
and give me peace – right now –
or at
least sooner than later
and the truth is, Lord:
it’s
already later than sooner…
So that’s why you hear me pray,
Where are you, Lord?
Have you forgotten me?
Why, Lord, do you stand far away
when I’m in trouble and I need you?
Why do I wait so long for you to do
what I know you can do?
Why do you wait so long to do
what you can do?
I know you hear my prayer,
that you know my every problem.
But I have to wonder
what keeps your arm from reaching out,
your hand from helping and healing me
– or
have I somehow missed
your reach, your touch, your care?
Why do you leave me locked in chains of fear,
shackled in confusion,
imprisoned by my hopelessness?
I
don’t think I’m asking for too much, Lord.
I ask only for a share
of what some seem to have in abundance:
I ask
for the peace of mind and heart
that opens to the joy
that’s only yours to give…
And I
know, Lord:
your love for all your people is mysterious,
sometimes confusing and confounding,
always mystifying – and yet inviting –
and ever faithful, true, abiding…
And I
know, Lord,
that even when I don’t understand,
when I feel like you’ve forgotten me,
when I can’t seem to find you,
– even
and especially then –
I
need to put my hope and trust in you
because you’re my safe place while I
wait…
you’re my fortress when I feel attacked…
you’re my refuge in my fear…
you’re my haven in my
hopelessness…
my safe harbor when my heavy heart
is storm-tossed and alone…
So tonight I pray and trust, Lord, that you’ll be
my strength when I’m weak,
my confidence when I’m
tempted to give up,
my wisdom when I just don’t understand,
my light in the depths of darkness,
my joy in the midst of grief,
and my hope when I wonder
why when I’m in trouble
you seem so far away…
And I pray for others who are troubled, Lord,
those who know so well
the prayer I pray tonight,
the plea that lives in their hearts, too…
And… if in fear and pain I’ve somehow missed
how your healing hand has
touched my deepest wounds,
let me see and know
how you’ve reached out,
how close you’ve been
how much you’ve done
in mercy
and with kindness
to touch my troubled heart
with the peace for which I pray…
In
the quiet of my prayer, Lord,
help me know you’re by my side,
that
you’re never far away,
but always close at hand…
Help
me trust that your heart holds, Lord,
a place for mine to rest
and that
in your heart I’ll find the peace
I long to know and pray for…
Protect
me, Lord, while I’m awake
and watch over me while I sleep,
that
awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace…
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