An American Christian's Prayer in Time of Anxiety
"Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."
Lord, as we face threats from our enemies, we turn our face to you for deliverance. You are mighty, O Lord, and you are able to deliver us from all the plotting of evil people.
As your people, O Lord, we are not afraid to face the truth of the threats that surround us. We know they are there, and we do not find our peace by pretending they aren't.
Yet we, Your people, are able to see a larger truth. We see the truth that You alone are God, and that all the earth is in Your hands. The winds, the waves, and the paths of the human heart, are under Your Sovereign control.
You allow us, O God, to live in the shadow of death, but you also allow us to know that You have conquered death by the resurrection of Your Son.
You allow us, O God, to experience anxiety, but you also allow us to know that peace which surpasses all understanding, which the world cannot give and which none can take away.
You allow us, O God, to be tested, but you also allow us to triumph.
You alone are God. In You alone, we are bold enough to say to those who hate us: "We are not afraid of you or your co-conspirators. We are Americans, and we are Christians. We have been through the fire before. The flag still flies and the Cross still stands. Secure in the shadow of both, we will neither be afraid nor distracted. We will serve our God, we will live our lives, we will love our country -- and long after you and your terrorist plots are gone and forgotten, we will still be celebrating our freedom and proclaiming the glorious name of our Savior."
Amen.
Fr. Frank Pavone
Director, Priests for Life
