Father, the hymn we just sang reminds us of Jeremiah’s words in Lamentations 3 that he wrote in response to his suffering. 

3:19-25 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. 

Whether we are in suffering now or in rest from our suffering, you are always good to those who wait for you, to those who turn to you for strength and comfort and hope.  

You provide all that we need, whether health or wisdom or salvation, comfort or understanding or assurance. All blessing in this life comes from your hand. 

We remember this as we pray for those in our congregation this morning. 

For those who are sick, we pray for their healing and ask that you display your grace to them in ways that they have not considered before, that as they come out of their illness, they are more thankful and their faith is more secure. 

For those who were sick and are healthy now, we pray that they would remember and talk of your kindness to them in their illness, that they would be an encouragement to others that you will be there when we need you the most. 

For those who are pregnant, we pray that you would care for those women and the children they carry, that you would preserve their lives, both mom and child, and that we would be able to rejoice with them at the birth of their children. 

For those who have lost, whether child or parent or friend, we pray that they would see your graciousness to them even in their pain, that even when they don’t know what to do next, that they do know that you are with them and are their hope. 

For the young, we pray that in their excitement what lies ahead in the lives, that they would remember that you are their God and that they would submit all of their plans to your will, being faithful with whatever you will give them. 

For the older, we pray that they would finish well, that they would remain faithful, not giving into sin, and that they would seek to be an example to the young of how a godly man or woman lives a life devoted to you. 

For those who are not believers, we pray that your Spirit would help them to understand your word, would help them to see their sin for what it is, and would seek your forgiveness and turn to you in faith. 

For those who are uncertain about their faith, we ask that your Spirit would remind them of your word and your promises of our security, that you will never leave those who trust you, that Jesus never loses those whom you gave to him, and that our faith in you, no matter how small, is from you. 

Thank you for hearing our prayer this morning. We pray that you would be glorified through our responses to your answers. 

Amen.