A Prayer of Lament for the Next Generation
O faithful God, you have never forsake in your children. I know that is true, but my heart is heavy and my soul is sad.
These last few weeks have brought heavy news. Racial violence continues take the lives of our brothers and sisters - three shootings just last week! Father, would you break down the walls that divide us and turn our hearts towards one another in fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ who equally carry the image of God. Would you raise this generation to reflect your heart — that all would come together with their different skin tones as cultures and languages and traditions around the cross in order to lift up the name of Jesus Christ.
Would you defend and uphold those who are often vulnerable in your church. Protect our children and comfort women who have been abused. Lead us to courageously pursue justice without fear of what it will cost us personally. Tear down the authority structures that claim to be channels of revival while permitting wickedness and abuse to run unchecked.
Comfort and strengthen this generation who goes to school in fear of violence. Draw the hearts of would-be perpetrators yourself for healing and restoration and genuine repentance. Give peace to those who are anxious and worried. Give courage to our teachers and staff and administrators as they care for our children in public buildings settings are often vulnerable to those by those who seek harm.
Lord, call this next generation unto yourself. May they see genuine repentance and steadfast love in their parents and church leaders. Strengthen us in your Holy Spirit, to know how to talk about these events with compassion and wisdom. Show us the log in our own eye before we attempt eye surgery on anyone else - and give us the humility to confess with genuine repentance.
In the midst of all the recent ugliness and heartache, lift our eyes to see your face and behold the one who sits on the throne with nail-scarred hands. Invite us again to rest in the sufficiency of Emmanuel, who does not watch our pain and suffering from a distance but who drew near. Would you wipe away our tears until that day when the final tear will be wiped away and all suffering will be swallowed up by your perfect peace.
AMEN
Note: As American youth workers prayerfully consider the last two weeks’ worth of racial violence, school shootings, and the unveiling of abuse within the SBC, we need to fall on our knees in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the log in our own eye. There will be articles on these issues in the weeks to come. But YPT does not want to fall into reacting quickly while the news is hot. Instead, we want to seek the Lord in prayer, asking for wisdom about how to address these very serious issues pastorally before we rush to write articles. Please share resources you find helpful with one another in the YPT Facebook Group or as a comment under this post on social media.
