A Familiar Hope Arises

Unchanging Father,

With each new season a familiar hope arises:
That this one will be better,
     and more disciplined,
     and more fruitful,
     and more hopeful,
     and more insightful. 

We long for continual progress.
We long to track our successes.
We long to love better 
   and to be better 
   and to do better.

In all of this, remind us that you are ever near-
that Jesus Christ himself is our strength and very substance.
Impress upon our hearts that we do not need anything new,
but instead that we need to be further ushered into our current reality-
We need our union with Christ to be real to us.
   We need it to matter. 
   We need it to change us.
   We need it to teach us what is true of you-
     and therefore what is true of us. 

In this new season,
Teach us to let you and others into our neediness.
Forgive us for pretending to be self-sufficient,
   and then getting angry that other's don't see our need.
In reality we are people who have many needs,
   and even this we must have your help to see. 

We praise you,
   for you don't have unrealistic expectations for us in this transition,
      even if we have them for ourselves. 
God of grace keep us close.
May this characterize this season, and the ones to come. 
Through it all, harvest in us hearts of thankfulness.
Teach us to praise and sing and dance with joy.

We know we will look back at your work in awe.
Amen.

Psalm 70: 4-5
'''Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
and let those who love your salvation say continually,
"Let God be magnified." But I am afflicted and needy;
Hasten to help me O God! 
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.'''