Dear God,

I’ve been listening to your children share about their sorrows and struggles all week long. And my heart is heavy this morning because of that.

There are those struggling with finances, with their wayward children, with physical ailments, with burnouts, with loneliness, etc.

I, myself, am perhaps feeling the composite of their struggles since I care for them.

But I’m not praying that you remove all their obstacles. I am praying, however, that you will show yourself so real and palpable to them that their sorrows and struggles will be overshadowed by Your greatness and magnificence.

After all, if we are joyful only because things are going well, and sorrowful when things are not going well, then how does that distinguish us from those who do not know you? But it is when your children are joyful and at peace genuinely from the heart when things are crumbling around them that the world will notice that You are among them and will know that you are real.

Lord, I know you care more about your glory than anything else. Wouldn’t it glorify your name if you so filled your children with your presence that they will find their joy in you even though their circumstances don’t improve?

Refresh us. Help us to be immersed in You and You only. Let us treasure you more than health, wealth, family, church, recognition. Bring the joy of the Lord back to us..

In Jesus name,

Amen