A Prayer For When the Pain Piles On

There are seasons in life when the pain just seems to pile on. Those times when we don’t dare say, “at least it can’t get any worse,” because we know that it can and probably will.

These seasons are difficult enough when they are our own, but perhaps even more difficult when they are happening to people we love, and we feel helpless in our efforts to alleviate their pain.

Here is a prayer for when the pain is being piled on to those whom we love.


God, we lift up those whose pain is piled on top of pain

For those who have borne all that they can bear

And then

One

More

Thing

Gets added to the pile

One more injury

One more bad diagnosis

One more broken relationship

One more early morning phone call

One more loss

added to the pile of grief and pain and disappointment

and the bearer of these burdens and all who love the bearer

can’t help but think…

Is God not paying attention?

Is God angry with him or her or them?

Is this a test?

Or even

Maybe there is no God at all, and we’re all just on our own in this mess

May those who lack the strength to carry on trust in You when their own strength fails

And when they come to You weak and heavy laden and still can find no rest

Turn those who love them into a team of porters to help bear the load

Turn those who love them into a union of stone masons to help put the broken pieces back together

Turn those who love them into crew of road workers to help fill the empty spaces and smooth out the rough patches

Turn those who love them into a battalion of prayer warriors to pray for for those who cannot pray for themselves because they are pretty sure no one is listening.

May you give an extra measure of strength, O God,

To those who are hurting

And to those who love them

That they–that we–might continue together on our journey as Your people.


Rev. Anne Russ is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), currently based in New York City. Doubting Believer provides tools and encouragement for the rollercoaster ride of your faith journey. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube. You can also follow on TikTok. Get emails to keep up with all that is happening.

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