A Prayer for Distressing Times

O LORD, be gracious to us;
we long for you.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress. Isa. 33:2


The nation of Judah had faced the onslaught of political bullying and acts of terrorism by the Assyrians. They lived under the threat of national survival, just as their northern brothers were toppled and exploited. But things were going from bad to worse. Isaiah’s prophetic ministry was constantly to remind God’s people of a coming kingdom – when nations would gather in Zion and the rivers of righteousness would fill the barren lands. Babylon and its great empire was yet to come and bring its terror, but this was not end of the matter. A righteous King will come to Zion. If, the book of Isaiah could be divided into two parts, then chapter 33 is right in the middle. Like the Bible, Isaiah has 66 books or chapters. So, smack in the center of this great book is a little prayer that is good for believers living in distressing times.

Fast forward many centuries and life is about the same. Distress and anxiety does not always come by way of sword and spear or earthly rulers. God’s people look forward the time when the righteous King will destroy all his enemies. We are reminded on every side of the struggles, the pain and the disappointments of this frail life. But, we can still sing the songs of Zion in a strange land. We pray realizing our dependence is not upon our outward security but upon the gracious deliverance of God. We pray with the certainty of being a redeemed people that our strength for living each day is found in Christ. It is a prayer for God to grant us the unmerited favor of his love for undeserving sinners. It means we acknowledge that our righteousness is not the basis of God’s goodness – it never is. Yes God desires obedience and blesses it, but never think we earn God’s blessings. At times we think our resources will be enough and that the strong arm of our abilities and talents are what will decide the day. This prayer understands that like small children we need the strong arm of a mighty Father to pick us up in life. Distress comes as a blessing in disguise, because it is then we run to the arms of our Father. “O Yahweh, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our arm of strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Amen.