A Prayer in Response to Environmental Disasters and Hard Providence
The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forest bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace! (Ps. 29:9–11)
Sovereign Father, it’s not just media footage from a faraway place. It’s my neighborhood, my friends, my family, and it’s right now. The floodwaters have already forced evacuations and damaged many homes, and there’s much more rain coming.
Before the sun rises, veiled by threatening storm clouds, I lift my gaze and heart to you. I come— I run— to the one who sits enthroned over the flood, the eternal King, who does all things well. I come praying for our situation but also for people and places where similar stories of hard providence are being written today.
Father, I don’t ask “Why this crisis? Why us?” for I know the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous, even as the sun rises on the evil and the good (Matt. 5:45). And I know the present world will never again be destroyed by flood- waters (Gen. 8:21). But there are two things I do ask for, two things you have promised: strength and peace.
Grant us all the strength we will need today to serve one another in love. As the floodwaters continue to rise, many more people will be despairing, displaced, and disheartened. Strengthen our backs and arms for what lies ahead. This is a time for neighbor love, not just looking out for ourselves and our own stuff. Grant us the power of the Holy Spirit and extra energy for neighbor love.
And grant us all the peace we will need today to act wisely, trust boldly, and love deeply. We will probably need to negotiate and navigate some fear and panic. Help us care for those most vulnerable and anxious. May your peace rule as an umpire in our hearts— centering us, focusing us, and leading us to make good choices for one and all.
In this crisis we praise you for Jesus, the high and safe Rock, the ultimate trust worthy foundation for any and every storm of life (Matt. 7:24–27). Thank you for rescuing us from building our lives on all kinds of shifting sands. I pray in Jesus’ strong and peace giving name.
Amen.