“God of peace, the hours are long, the work is hard, the duties are complex, and the fears and anxieties are real. Enable me to lay in your hands the day that is past…”
This prayer admits real life, real stories. Wherever life’s work or life’s choices take any of us, there are long hours of work, complex duties, fears, anxieties about work, about family, about community. Reflecting life, this prayer is also flexible— able to be changed for the needs at hand. “God of peace, the duty and work is long, the hours hard, the fears real, the anxieties complex…”
At times such as being stationed far from family, or in combat, this prayer from the Prayerbook for the Armed Services is particularly heartfelt. Yet it also expresses the heartfelt need of many times in life. When in a job that strains, in a time without a job, in a failing business or as a failing student, in a time of dying, in a time when a loved one is far away or estranged or near death, we can pray: “God of peace, the fears are long, the anxieties hard, life complex.”
And we can broaden and the plea: Enable me to lay in your hands all that is past, and what comes tomorrow.”
This written-out prayer gives us something to turn to when we are too tired or upset to get out our own words. As it continues, it includes prayers for the good we can do, recognizing that in each life there is more than difficulties.
“Enable me to lay in your hands…the good I have been permitted to do…” Yes, each of us is given opportunities, in whatever our situation, of being able to do good. God’s Holy Spirit inspires those of prayer to know and to remember that we have those opportunities, even when “doing good” is far from our normal reaction.
The man Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran Christian, a pastor and theologian. A German, he resisted the Nazi government as it tried to overrun the world in the 1930s and ’40s. The regime of Adolf Hitler, and those swayed by his strident voice of hate, wanted to exterminate those of Jewish background, those with disabilities, those of minority background, those who disagreed with the Nazi determination to rule all aspects of life in Europe, Russia, the Balkans, Africa, and beyond.
Bonhoeffer stayed in Germany to resist Nazism. A pacifist, he prayed and pondered long before deciding to help plan an attempt to assassinate Hitler. In prison camp his faith and manner towards guards and officers brought some to their knees, not before him, but before God. He knew God’s call to find good to do meant complex considerations; he remained stalwart in doing good and in unwillingness to betray others, even when it meant his death. Perhaps his end of the day prayer was similar to this:
“God of peace, the hours are long, the work is hard, the duties are complex, and the fears and anxieties are real. Enable me to lay in your hands the day that is past—the good I have been permitted to do, but also my worries and feelings of uncertainty. As I take a deep breath of gratitude for your constant mercy and love, allow me to sleep in peace, trust in your unfailing care. When I sleep, let my sleep be confession of confidence in your love, which you have shown through Jesus Christ my Savior. Amen.”
May each of you find in this prayer words that help you know your life, and words that help you speak to God about your life. Prayer is from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America “Prayerbook for the Armed Services” (Augsburg Publishers.)
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Pastor Kris Garey, Trinity Lutheran Church, Hovland.
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