A Call to Prayer

If a city could talk …

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long.

… what would it take for a city to say something like that? 
How bad would things have to get? How many tragic deaths would need to occur? How much suffering, confusion, anger — how much until it feels like darkness without any light?

The answer is what is happening in the Twin Cities. 

We have been besieged with tragedy, and at the time of this writing, undoubtedly, it’s far from over. The scab of last summer’s wound has been scrapped off with the knife of yet more division. The budding daffodils of hope have been trampled. Our streets have been engulfed with bitterness.

An arrow in the kidneys. Teeth grinding on gravel. A metro bereft of peace.

At one level there are no words, but then again, there are words, from the word of God:

Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.  (Lamentations 3:19–20)

Why does the Bible speak so pointedly about sorrow?

Because sorrow is part of the human condition cursed by sin, and there’s no ignoring it. Far from sweeping our pain under the rug, the God of the universe, our Father in heaven, invites us to bring it to him. Nothing is nearer to his ear than an honest heart submitted to his providence. Submitted, humbled, and frankly, at times, confused.

Another death? Another African American neighbor? And like this? And then this again? And now that? Wait, that? No. No. No. 

And it feels hopeless. 

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:21–24)

And this is a living hope — a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A resurrection that guarantees that the worst thing is never the last thing. It wasn’t for Jesus; it won’t be for his people; it’s not for these cities.

Call to Prayer

Tonight, at 9:00pm, and tomorrow morning, 6:00am, while most of our homes are at rest, the pastors will be gathering to pray. Would you pray with us?

From wherever you are, would take a few moments, at either of those times, and seek the Father to bring healing to the Twin Cities? Though we will be kneeling from different places, we can approach the same throne of grace together, asking God to do what only he can.