This is exactly what I was asking Nadia in her thread today — how do we pray in times such as these especially. While there may not be an answer I’m grateful to not be alone in the struggle. Thanks for articulating this so well.
Hi Jeff, as always , thank you and bless you. I have this quote on a sticky on my computer. Sometimes we have no words but our prayers matter. Be encouraged.
“ to grasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.“ Karl Barth
i only know one person in Ukraine, and "know" is a very strong word (she's a sort of Christian influencer who i have been following off and on for a few years, married a Ukrainian guy last year, and lives in Kyiv.) she's 38 weeks pregnant and yesterday had to leave her husband and her home in Kyiv, and all the little pink sweaters and the birth center and her dog and literally everything, and she's trying to get out of Ukraine and into Poland right now. That's my touchstone into the moment - and there's so many pregnant women, older people, people who have relatives who refuse to leave their towns and are accepting potential death rather than become a refugee, the men getting conscripted, the little kids who don't understand what's going on, the moms who are shushing them and holding the bag of all the food they brought with them, the cats and dogs. My heart is overwhelmed and breaking and I don't even have a personal connection, other than this one girl Ellissa who I have sort of been following. I don't pray a lot, but the last few nights I have been. I guess this is the prayer: for Ellissa and her family, and the countless Ellissa's i don't know, the people who get forgotten. All the tiny and enormous griefs. Just praying for safety and peace and resolution and kindness. no more war.
Thank you, Jeff. I am always encouraged by your words. Your prayers are a reminder that we can go to God with our concerns and speak to him very specifically. Also, that there is nothing too big or too small to bring to him. Pray is not "all we we can do" as some say, as if it is a last resort, but the very best we can do and our first line in defense. I love the way you framed your prayers. I would add this: For any who feel unaffected and detached from the violence in other parts of the world, for those who believe they are protected from the fighting, enjoying the peace in their own corner - Lord, grant them compassion and empathy and love for those who are impacted, directly or indirectly, by the war that is raging. Help us all to understand that when one of God's beloved is hurting and in pain, no matter how near or far, we should all be concerned about them and speaking to God on their behalf. Lord, in your mercy...Amen
I look forward to your notes as it always makes me feel closer to our great creator. This past week was a hard one for me. Thank you for reminding me that nothing is lost in prayer.
Last week, when you asked us to send you any question we had, I almost asked you about prayer. But when I saw the other questions on the site, I decided against it, as their questions were much more light hearted. Thanks for speaking to it today. As a former missionary, who has deconstructed, the question of prayer is always a conundrum for me. It's good to read your back and forth on prayer and see my back and forth as more normal. Thank you.
I’m going to share this. “That’s my wish for you today—dare I call it my prayer? That you’d glimpse something that humbles you, fills you with wonder, and stirs ample hope. “ Yesterday on a walk with a dear friend she stopped at one point and looked up at the newly budded tree and said, HOPE.
Thank you Jeff for the reminder that God is with us, even when we aren’t sure of it. I know he is with the people in Ukraine and Russia, and with the trans kids and their families in Texas. And yes, even with Governor Abbott, though it pains me to say it. Thank you for reminding me that though I’m not sure if my prayers fall on deaf ears, I can still pray them, because at my core I do believe there is a God, in whatever form, whose with-ness I trust is alive and well. Again your words do something in my spirit to help bolster up the places that feel so fragile. You bring a sense of solidarity in the questions and wondering, and I’m grateful. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this. I have not known what/how/why to pray for awhile now, and you were able to put into words some of the things I couldn’t pinpoint. Last night, my prayer for Zelensky’s safety took the form of a thought bubble floating up to the ceiling; it was the best I could do. Thank you for letting me know I am not alone.
This is exactly what I was asking Nadia in her thread today — how do we pray in times such as these especially. While there may not be an answer I’m grateful to not be alone in the struggle. Thanks for articulating this so well.
Hi Jeff, as always , thank you and bless you. I have this quote on a sticky on my computer. Sometimes we have no words but our prayers matter. Be encouraged.
“ to grasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.“ Karl Barth
i only know one person in Ukraine, and "know" is a very strong word (she's a sort of Christian influencer who i have been following off and on for a few years, married a Ukrainian guy last year, and lives in Kyiv.) she's 38 weeks pregnant and yesterday had to leave her husband and her home in Kyiv, and all the little pink sweaters and the birth center and her dog and literally everything, and she's trying to get out of Ukraine and into Poland right now. That's my touchstone into the moment - and there's so many pregnant women, older people, people who have relatives who refuse to leave their towns and are accepting potential death rather than become a refugee, the men getting conscripted, the little kids who don't understand what's going on, the moms who are shushing them and holding the bag of all the food they brought with them, the cats and dogs. My heart is overwhelmed and breaking and I don't even have a personal connection, other than this one girl Ellissa who I have sort of been following. I don't pray a lot, but the last few nights I have been. I guess this is the prayer: for Ellissa and her family, and the countless Ellissa's i don't know, the people who get forgotten. All the tiny and enormous griefs. Just praying for safety and peace and resolution and kindness. no more war.
Thank you, Jeff. I am always encouraged by your words. Your prayers are a reminder that we can go to God with our concerns and speak to him very specifically. Also, that there is nothing too big or too small to bring to him. Pray is not "all we we can do" as some say, as if it is a last resort, but the very best we can do and our first line in defense. I love the way you framed your prayers. I would add this: For any who feel unaffected and detached from the violence in other parts of the world, for those who believe they are protected from the fighting, enjoying the peace in their own corner - Lord, grant them compassion and empathy and love for those who are impacted, directly or indirectly, by the war that is raging. Help us all to understand that when one of God's beloved is hurting and in pain, no matter how near or far, we should all be concerned about them and speaking to God on their behalf. Lord, in your mercy...Amen
Thank you Jeff. Your words, as always, hit home in beautifully articulated ways.
I look forward to your notes as it always makes me feel closer to our great creator. This past week was a hard one for me. Thank you for reminding me that nothing is lost in prayer.
Last week, when you asked us to send you any question we had, I almost asked you about prayer. But when I saw the other questions on the site, I decided against it, as their questions were much more light hearted. Thanks for speaking to it today. As a former missionary, who has deconstructed, the question of prayer is always a conundrum for me. It's good to read your back and forth on prayer and see my back and forth as more normal. Thank you.
your writing is refreshing, hopeful, helpful. thank you
What a beautiful prayer for today.Thank you Jeff.
I’m going to share this. “That’s my wish for you today—dare I call it my prayer? That you’d glimpse something that humbles you, fills you with wonder, and stirs ample hope. “ Yesterday on a walk with a dear friend she stopped at one point and looked up at the newly budded tree and said, HOPE.
Thanks for including me in this.
Thank you Jeff for the reminder that God is with us, even when we aren’t sure of it. I know he is with the people in Ukraine and Russia, and with the trans kids and their families in Texas. And yes, even with Governor Abbott, though it pains me to say it. Thank you for reminding me that though I’m not sure if my prayers fall on deaf ears, I can still pray them, because at my core I do believe there is a God, in whatever form, whose with-ness I trust is alive and well. Again your words do something in my spirit to help bolster up the places that feel so fragile. You bring a sense of solidarity in the questions and wondering, and I’m grateful. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this. I have not known what/how/why to pray for awhile now, and you were able to put into words some of the things I couldn’t pinpoint. Last night, my prayer for Zelensky’s safety took the form of a thought bubble floating up to the ceiling; it was the best I could do. Thank you for letting me know I am not alone.
Thank you Jeff. God’s love is beyond great and I pray all will get there with the understanding we really all are one 🙏
I awoke in the night here in England. Thanks for helping me find some words to pray Jeff, especially for the aggressors.
We've only came across you fairly recently. May the Beloved encourage you to keep on encouraging! 🙂
Jeff, thank you for these words, for your willingness to flail about in prayer and express what so many of us are seeking the words to say.