Liturgy 055: The Ceiling of My Headstrong Efforts

🕊️ A Prayer and a Blessing for those Who are Frustrated

☕️ Lectio Divina

But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

— Psalm 81

I wAnT tO sPeAk To tHe MaNaGeR!!!

— Karen Meme

🪴 Prayer

God
Why don’t you coddle me?

God
Why don’t you
come to my aid
like a helicopter,
hovering
demanding to speak
with middle management?

God
Why must I deal
with incompetent
people everyday?

God
Why won’t you do as I ask?

God
What do you mean you
are giving me over to my
stubborn heart to follow my
own devices?

—selah—

LORD
I am tired.

I have hit the ceiling
of my headstrong efforts.

I think perhaps
I will rest here awhile.

Maybe tomorrow
I will try instead
that one thing you teach
over and over again
to the people who call you God:

Patient long-suffering loving kindness.

Help me LORD.

🕊️ Blessing

May you take notice of God’s filial presence.

May you find a joyful rest in God’s arms.

May you hear God’s invitation:
Walk in my ways.
Delight in me
and I will give to you
the desires of your heart.

May your stubbornness lead you to confess
”in the end, all my fountains are in You.”

In the Name of the One Who Rescues Us
As We Walk in His Way

Amen