God,
Some days are good. Some days are hard. Some whole seasons of life seem to be especially hard. But you know all about suffering, as you are the God who became flesh that you might know our suffering. I look around me and see so many people who are hurting. There are those who have lost loved ones and are full of sorrow. There are those who are ill themselves, or struggling financially or overcome with fear and anxiety. O God, come to each one of them as your transforming Holy Spirit and help them, and show me how to be present and active in their lives on your behalf.
And yet, God, I can see how you show up in the lives of those who suffer not only to provide comfort but to redeem their pain in some way. I see how you use their suffering for your purposes – to bring endurance, and character, and hope in new ways into their lives, to reawaken gratitude, to develop compassion and empathy. Oh God, I am so grateful that our suffering is not wasted but is used by you to accomplish that which you desire for each of us and for your church – so that we might be the body of Christ, suffering and serving just as your Son did, in the world around us. Make us who you want us to be, however it may come to pass. Amen.