A Prayer

Father, 

It's hard for us to miss the news about the hurricane that has caused such havoc in Texas and elsewhere. We've heard the stories of how this storm has touched lives and destroyed lives. As we think about such things, we understand that ultimately all of this finds its source in You. You are the one who sends the rain on the just and on the unjust.

And as we consider this, it sometimes confuses us. We see what's going on and how so many lives are being turned upside down, homes destroyed, lives destroyed. And it's not as if we give it a week or two, or even a month or two, that everything will be fine, back to the way it was. Even after a year or two, it won't be the way it was. Lives have been dramatically changed by what's happened. There has been much pain. We look, and we wonder. We wonder what You are doing.

But we know, Father, that You know what You are doing. You really do. We know that whatever it is that You do, You do with purpose and for good reasons.

We know that, in all of this, there are lessons for us. Lessons that, if we were to learn them, would help us greatly in understanding You and what You have planned for our world, our nation, our families and our church.

So, Father, we ask that You would help us to do our homework to learn those lessons. Give us the curiosity that we need to stop and to consider some of these questions about what You're up to. Help us to use the principles and examples we have in the Scriptures that explain at least something of what's going on, principles and examples that explain You.

We ask for this because we want to understand You. That's where understanding ourselves and the rest of life begins, by understanding You. We're not as good at this as we could be. So, we ask Your indulgence. Help us. Guide us as we look around, seeing what You are doing. Give us some ideas to understand what You're up to.

We ask for this, Father, because as we see more clearly into Your purposes and as we understand more clearly Your reasons - as we come to understand You better, we will be amazed at You. Our curiosity will lead to wonder. And that will lead to heartfelt worship. So, help us in this, Father. Help us so that we might get it, that we might see more of the beauty of who You are. As that happens, we will be better able to make You look as good as You are.

Toward that end, we ask for Your blessing on the preaching of the word. Help us all to hear You in this so that we will be blessed to know more about the kind of God that You are.