Take it to the Lord in Prayer

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

This call to “rejoice always…give thanks in all circumstances” has been a hard one for me.  How am I expected to rejoice when I see young Black people being killed as though it were sport?  How can I give thanks in all circumstances when the circumstances are oppressive to me and those I love?  There is a way that those words seem to be not simply a challenge but pouring of salt into wounds.  How can God make such a difficult call on our lives, what if I can’t find anything to be thankful for on any given day?

The secret is in the part I jumped over. “…pray without ceasing.”  God has given us prayer as the place to offer to God all that burdens and weighs us down.  “Take it to the Lord in prayer” is not simply a slogan or a pithy throw away line.  It is the very foundation of our lives.  Even on our worst days we can be thankful that we can name to God everything that makes the day, the month, the year so trying and hard.  Prayer is where we bare our souls, and our God offers us a loving ear.  For that if for nothing else we can rejoice and give thanks.

-Reverend Naomi Tutu

Let us pray…

 Mother God we thank you that you care for us and love us beyond our understanding.  Thank you for teaching us to bring before you all that scares us, all that hurts us, all that leads us into paths of doubt.  Help us to remember that you are always with us and that your presence is a cause for joy and thanksgiving even on our darkest days. Amen.