We are tired

 Aaron Salvato

Lord, we are tired.

Our hearts are heavy with sorrow for the brokenness of this world.

We are tired of division.

Tired of hate.

Tired of endless wars waged between image-bearers.

We long for peace.

We cry out for justice.

We ache for a world where evil has no home.

We dream of a Kingdom ruled by love.

But that dream feels distant, when all we see each day is violence and strife.

We are poor in spirit.

Burned out.

Anxious.

Depressed.

Empty.

We confess… we cannot make it without you.

We mourn.

We mourn the deaths.

We mourn the violence.

We mourn the disunity, even in our mourning.

We can’t even agree on what… or who… is worth mourning.

We have forgotten how to mourn with those who mourn.

Lord, have mercy.

We want to hunger and thirst for righteousness… 

but too often, we chase the appearance of being right in the eyes of those we fear rather than genuine righteousness.

We crave validation more than transformation.

We aren’t willing to pay the hard cost of helping lead others into true righteousness… right relationship with You, the Father, and with others.

We fear man more than we fear you.

We fear the threat of our enemies.

We fear the disapproval of our allies.

Lord, we are sorry.

Yet deep down, many of us want to do what is right.

We want to honor you.

We want to follow your teachings.

We want to be a light in this dark and fractured world.

But it feels so hard.

When your people can’t even agree on what the light actually is.

Jesus, humble us.

Show each of us where we are weak,

where we need to repent,

where we need to renew our minds.

Teach us to shine your light wherever you’ve placed us.

Lord, we are like the moon.

Without the Son we hang in darkness. 

Be the light. Reflect off us the love that comes from within you.

Help us proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom with boldness, not performance.

Help us speak honestly about our sin.

About how you saved us.

About how your mercy reshaped us.

Let that truth, not our pride, be what stirs others to repentance and new life.

Teach us to love fiercely.

To love one another.

To love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let the world see our love for one another.

And also… let them see our love for our enemies.

A love that defies logic.

A love that says,

“I’m willing to suffer…

if it means you might come to know the truth of the gospel

and the overwhelming love of Christ.”

Humble us, Lord.

Help us show up…daily, faithfully… for the people you place in our path.

Help us encourage the disheartened,

strengthen the weak,

and set the table even for those who’ve hurt us.

We need you.

We can’t do this without you.

We aren’t strong enough.

Lord, have mercy.

Give us strength for the days ahead.

Help us remember

we do not need to fear the world.

Because you have overcome it.

Amen.