Dear Holy Father,

Be with us in our day. Stand with us against the snares of evil. Help us withstand the fearful thoughts that tempt us to leave our place on our rock of faith. It is when things seem their darkest that we must choose the knowing that You love us even if we do not experience it at the moment. Especially now, we crave the reassurance that we are loved by You. When we are overwhelmed by distractions, illusions, and worries, we know we are not going to find the answers to our deepest questions in going back over old events and re-experiencing guilt and shame, that would just take us off of the rock on which our home is built.

Even in our darkest hour, we must trust the place that is solid, the place where we know You love us even if we do not feel it. We choose the solid place on the rock, and we choose to return to it over and over again after every hiccup and every failure. We choose the place of knowing that You love us and Your love is enough. “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” (Psalm 47:1)

Even when the darkness tempts us to go into fear and worry, we return to the place of our firm foundation knowing that your love for us is solid and everlasting. “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” (Psalm 98:8) We choose to stand with our brother Jesus and fight for our peace and our joy standing on the rock of faith and hope. Give us the strength of the wings of eagles and a perpetual vitality that gives us the ability to make a dynamic impact on a world thirsting to know they are Loved.