A Prayer for When You Are Overwhelmed by Suffering in the World - Your Daily Prayer - November 15

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A Prayer for When You Are Overwhelmed by Suffering in the World
By Sophia Bricker 

Bible Reading:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:22, NIV).

Listen or Read Below:

I paused from my tutoring job to glance out the window. The trees continued to stand as dependable sentinels of my day, their leaves blowing in the wind. Yet, I wondered how anything could remain the same with the brokenness I had just read about in a student’s paper.  

She had compiled her research about the experiences of women in refugee camps and the harassment they face daily. As I read her paper, I couldn't help but envision these women as they shared their stories of suffering. Not only had they been forced to flee their homes due to war or violence and endured the loss of loved ones, but now they must deal with the trauma of being hurt and live with the fear of further pain. Reflecting on what these women experienced brought tears to my eyes, causing me to look away from the computer screen and toward the light outside. With such suffering in the world, what could I do?  

In that moment, I did not know how to help these women or how I could make a difference, but I bowed my head and prayed.   

The prophet Jeremiah also experienced sorrow at the suffering he saw around him. Called the "weeping prophet" by scholars, Jeremiah endured the siege of Jerusalem and then witnessed the city's fall. He witnessed firsthand the loss of life and devastation caused by the Babylonian armies' invasion. The book of Lamentations includes his cries to God and the honest expression of his feelings. As he wrote, “My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city” (Lamentations 2:11, NIV). 

Amid his lament, though, Jeremiah turned his thoughts back to hope. He remembered that although devastation surrounded him, the Lord’s love was still present. Only because of God was there still a remnant so that His people were not destroyed. Sorrow and darkness remained around him, but he knew he could place his hope in the Lord and wait patiently for deliverance.  

The Lord has provided the answer to the evil in the world–His Son dying on the cross for the sins of humankind. Jesus died to bring us life, and at His return, He will destroy death and bring renewal to this broken world. Every tear shed, whether from grief, hardship, or pain, will be wiped away by the Lord who gave Himself to save us (Revelation 21:4).  

As Jeremiah was reminded amid the darkness of Jerusalem's fall, so too can we know that God sees the suffering and injustice that occur daily. He told the prophet not to fear (Lamentations 3:57). Nothing is overlooked by the One who sees and knows all. The Lord is at work, even now, in ways we may not always understand, and He invites us to participate in His work to bring peace, goodness, and love into the broken places of our world.  

So, let us pray and lament, pouring our hearts out to the One who loves us. And let us be willing to obey His Word to use our lives to help others know they are not alone and that there is a better, truer story than the darkness wants them to believe.  

Let’s Pray: 

Great God of all,

You see all the brokenness in the world and know better than I do the evil that exists in the hearts of humankind. At times, I am overwhelmed by the stories of suffering I encounter. There is so much sorrow–people who go hungry, children without parents, families torn apart by war and violence, individuals struggling in poverty and slavery, and beloved daughters that You created who are exploited and assaulted. My heart breaks as I think of their lives and the hopelessness that marks their days.

Lord, I know Your heart breaks for them too, and so I am asking You to be with them. Show them Your love and grace, providing comfort in their suffering. Please also guide me on how I can help, even in my small, limited role in the world. May I be a part of the work You are already doing to bring good news to others.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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