God of Mercy, these are hard times, trying times, indeed dark times.  We cannot escape this hour, the seeming absence of light and hope.  We plead with You for intervention less we loosen our hold on Your promises and fall into despair.

For some of us, it is as Charles Dickens said, “the best and worst of times.”  A confusing mixture, a tormenting, perplexing and crippling time as there is cause for celebration and lament, reason for hopelessness and confidence, signs of defeat and victory.  Still, we know that You are with us at all times, that You have not abandoned us, that You stick closer to us that our next of kin.

Dear God, persons are desperate and taking desperate measures, taking matters and lives into their own hands.   Your land and our country is in a state of emergency.  Your world is moving from one fear to the next, from one attack to the next, one disaster after another.

We confess that we can get through this if You talk us through it.

Our Great Intercessor, we come for Your Words.  Many of us are at a loss for them, tired of hearing the same words, having the same conversations.  Give us words of light and hope as we hang on for dear life.  Give us the word to hold onto and that grips us as there are nets all along that would capture us, ensnare us, stop us from getting out of bed, believing and trusting, forgiving and reconciling, healing and delivering.

God of all Comfort, give us the strength to reach out for and to hold on to Your unchanging hand. In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.