Anxious Prayers

ANXIOUS PRAYERS

by HELEN STEINER RICE



WHEN WE ARE DEEPLY DISTURBED WITH A PROBLEM
AND OUR MIND IS FILLED WITH DOUBT
AND WE STRUGGLE TO FIND A SOLUTION
BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY OUT,
WE FUTILELY KEEP ON TRYING
TO UNTANGLE OUR WEB OF DISTRESS-
BUT OUR OWN LITTLE, PUNY EFFORTS
MEET WITH VERY LITTLE SUCCESS...
AND FINALLY EXHAUSTED AND WEARY,
DISCOURAGED AND DOWNCAST AND LOW,
WITH NO FORESEEABLE ANSWER
AND WITH NO OTHER PLACE TO GO,
WE KNEEL DOWN IN SHEER DESPERATION
AND SLOWLY AND STUMBLINGLY PRAY
THEN IMPATIENTLY WAIT FOR AN ANSWER
WHICH WE FULLY EXPECT RIGHT AWAY...
AND THEN, WHEN GOD DOES NOT ANSWER,
IN ONE, SUDDEN INSTANT WE SAY,
"GOD DOES NOT SEEM TO BE LISTENING,
SO WHY SHOULD WE BOTHER TO PRAY"...
BUT GOD CAN'T GET THROUGH TO "THE ANXIOUS"
WHO ARE MUCH TOO IMPATIENT TO WAIT-
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN GOD'S PROMISE
THAT HE COMES NOT TOO SOON OR TOO LATE,
FOR, WHETHER GOD ANSWERS PROMPTLY
OR DELAYS IN ANSWERING YOUR PRAYER,
YOU MUST HAVE FAITH TO BELIEVE HIM
AND TO KNOW IN YOUR HEART HE'LL BE THERE...
SO BE NOT IMPATIENT OR HASTY,
JUST TRUST IN THE LORD AND BELIEVE,
FOR WHATEVER YOU ASK IN FAITH AND LOVE
IN ABUNDANCE YOU ARE SURE TO RECEIVE.










BUT THOU, O LORD, ART A
GOD MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS,
SLOW TO ANGER AND ABUNDANT
IN LOVINGKINDNESS AND TRUTH.




PSALM 86:15
NAS



BUT I HAVE TRUSTED IN YOUR MERCY;
MY HEART SHALL REJOICE IN YOUR SALVATION.




PSALM 13:5
NKJV



HELP US, O GOD OF OUR SALVATION,
FOR THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME;
DELIVER US, AND FORGIVE OUR SINS,
FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE.




PSALM 79:9
NRSV



DO NOT REMEMBER THE SINS OF
MY YOUTH OR MY REBELLIOUS WAYS.

REMEMBER ME, O LORD, IN KEEPING WITH
YOUR MERCY AND YOUR GOODNESS.




PSALM 25:7
GODS WORD



MAY INTEGRITY AND UPRIGHTNESS
PRESERVE ME, FOR I WAIT FOR YOU.




PSALM 25:21
NRSV



YOU DEFEND MY INTEGRITY,
AND YOU SET ME IN YOUR
PRESENCE FOREVER.




PSALM 41:12
GOD'S WORD



MAY INTEGRITY AND UPRIGHTNESS PROTECT ME,
BECAUSE MY HOPE IS IN YOU.




PSALM 25:21
NIV



MY SHIELD IS WITH GOD,
WHO SAVES THE UPRIGHT IN HEART.




PSALM 7:10
NAS



WAIT ON THE LORD;
BE OF GOOD COURAGE,
AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART;
WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD!



PSALM 27:14
NKJV



ASSIGN ME GODLINESS
AND INTEGRITY AS MY BODYGUARDS,
FOR I EXPECT YOU TO PROTECT ME.




PSALM 25:21
TLB