Earlier this week I wrote about praying in the crisis. Today I thought I would just provide you a prayer to pray in the crisis. There is nothing magical about this prayer, but it well worded. Maybe you need it. Maybe a friend of yours needs it.

Maybe you will share it-after all, in crises-there is always opportunity. And maybe sharing a prayer with a friend (instead of just promising to pray)-maybe, just maybe-that's the greatest opportunity you'll have this week.

God, I cry out to You.

The news that's just hit me is so hard to bear.

I'm close to being in shock right now.

I don't know what to do.

I'm angry. I'm hurt. I'm confused.

So, Lord, I call out to You. Please hear my prayer.

Give me strength to get through this mess.

Help me to make wise choices

and not to say something that will

just make things worse.

Please, don't let this thing get any worse than it is.

And God, help me not to do anything stupid.

This is going to take a long time to get through;

and right now, I don't feel like I'll ever get on top of it.

So, here it is, Lord. A big mess.

Thank You that You're here to show me

how to clean it up.

Amen.*

* From the book Pivotal Praying