Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of
your people, and in our time grant us your peace;

[Silence]

We know that you are sovereign. With the angels, we rejoice that you have sovereignty over the whole world, that no other power is greater than your power. We serve a sovereign God who, in goodness, made us; who in mercy, saved us, who in grace, provides for us. Nothing can separate us from your power, for nothing can separate us from you.

But we confess this morning that we sometimes question your sovereignty. When we see suffering around the world, we wonder if you’re really sovereign? When we experience trauma in our lives, we wonder about your power’s efficacy? When we know illness in our families, we wonder about your divine rule? How can we believe that you are sovereign if we experience such evil?

God, if you are sovereign over us, if you govern all things in both heaven and on earth, come and alleviate our sufferings. Come and alleviate the world from what ails it. Bring nations to peace. Bring healing to disease. Bring reconciliation to our families. Bring hope to our despair. Bring your peace that passes all understanding.

Hear us now as we bring before you what ails us

[Silence]

We know that, in your sovereignty, you have yet allowed evil to remain and have a role to play in the world. We know that the forces of evil are not yet fully defeated. And so, we pray that ancient prayer of the church, Come, Lord Jesus, and fully defeat evil. Come, Lord Jesus, and fully defeat sin. Come, Lord Jesus, and bring your restoration of creation to back as it was in the garden! Come, Lord Jesus!

And until that time when you come, we pray with our forebear Theodore Roosevelt, asking not for a lighter load, but for a stronger back, that with you, we may prevail over evil. In our time, in our very lives, in this moment, grant us your peace that allows us to withstand all that would attack and defame us, all that would cause us harm.

We thank you that you are for us and not against us. We thank you that you have chosen us and not rejected us. We thank you that you have provided a way past the sin that ensnares and the evil that causes harm to find us; that, through your grace and the free will you have given us, you have provided a way for us to know you and thus know release from our sufferings.

Hear us now as we offer our thanks to you for being our God:

[Silence]

You have called us to be your disciples and we willingly submit to that yoke, for we know that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. And so, we pray with the ancients who taught us to pray by saying….