This prayer came to me in the middle of the night, when I looked out of my bedroom window. I couldn’t sleep, because the day before we had made an offer for a small, wheelchair-accessible bungalow in a nearby town.
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).
My beloved Father,
As long as I have this beautiful view from my room, I feel I can cope with whatever life brings. Yet I will lose it soon, for we must move.
As long as I can write, and post prayers on my website, I feel my life has a purpose. But I already know that one day, at a time of your choosing, you will stop giving me any more prayers.
As long as I have my much-loved icons around me, I feel I can face whatever losses and suffering you send. However, even these icons will have to be left behind one day. Then, no matter what comes, I must go on without their help.
As long as I can pray, I feel that my life is worth living, because I can experience your presence, no matter what I have to endure. Nevertheless, I realise that I won’t necessarily always be able to pray.
Lord, as I grow older, more unwell, forgetful and disabled, my life is slowly reducing to the absolute essentials of faith, hope, and love. These I will consciously cling to for as long as I possibly can. Yet even when I can cling no longer, whatever happens, I know that nothing can ever separate me from your love, because:
From the beginning, long before my life began, for as long as it continues, and eternally, beyond my death, I am part of you, my God, and I am one with you.
Thank you, beloved Lord, that nothing can ever take this truth away.
For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-9; NLT).
References…
The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
There is in humans a Spirit, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding (Job 32:8; GWT).
Then he [Jesus] breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22; NLT).
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
…and further references
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18; NLT).
I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go (John 21:18; NLT).
Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).
I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him (Job 13:15; KJV).