by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller
The nights can be long.
For new parents.
For the terminally ill.
For the one waiting for an answer.
For the recently widowed.
For the hungry child.
For the lonely teenager.
For the one fleeing their home.
For the one weathering the storm.
For the one waiting for work.
For the one without hope.
For the one holding on to anger.
For the addicted.
For the homeless
For the night-shift worker.
The nights can be long.
Hear our prayers, Lord.
In this night.
That seems to go on forever.
That leaves us wrestling with the dark.
With our demons and failings.
With the words we forgot to say
And the words we spoke too harshly.
With all those we turned our back on
And those who have turned their back on us.
With the sadness of yesterday
And the uncertainty of tomorrow.
Hear our prayers, Lord.
For this night.
For this sleeplessness.
For this life.
That during the long night we turn to you.
To remember we are not alone.
That in our waking and restlessness,
We remember that the dawn will come.
That the light continues to shine.
That the darkness will be overcome.
Hear our prayers, Lord.
Bring us together.
Remind us we are not alone.
Teach us to pray
To settle us in the silence
To look towards the light.
To know you keep vigil with us.
The nights can be long, Lord,
But so is the vastness of your love and presence.
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is an ordained ELCA pastor, mother of two, and spouse of an ELCA pastor. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, MO. Her website is http://www.kimberlyknowlezeller.com
Image: at Pixabay