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Whatever the color of our skin, there is much to grieve and lament over right now. So many of us are hurting. So many of us feel powerless to help. Those of us who are not people of color want to stand with our brothers and sisters, but sometimes are unsure how to.
But all of us can pray. And all of us must pray.
So we’ve invited women of color to help all of us lift our eyes to the Lord of all and speak to him as our Father about the times we’re walking through. Each day for the next week or two, visit this blog and you’ll find a video, voice recording, or written prayer that will help you to pray into this situation.
We’re honored that serving us today is Quina Aragon, an author and spoken word artist residing in Tampa, FL.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for another morning. And here we are. To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls, we lift up our grief this morning. So many of us are emotionally exhausted, O God. So many of us don’t even have the words to articulate the sort of pain that we’re feeling right now, the sort of fear that we’re feeling, God.
O Lord, as this passage says, we wake up and we learn that justice has not been served, over and over again. That our bodies and the bodies of our loved ones are at risk for simply existing in this society. Not only that, we’re dealing with our own sinful nature, our own proclivity to turn away from you, to deny your good name. God, we are dealing with sin on the inside, and being sinned against on the outside; we are dealing, God, with so many fiery darts of the evil one. Trauma upon trauma.
O Jesus, we know that you know what it’s like to suffer injustice. We know, God, that you are the One who draws near to the brokenhearted; you are the One whose throne is established on righteousness and justice. And you—your arm—you yourself will bring about justice for all who have been oppressed, God. We thank you that this is your character, this is your heart, this is who you have revealed yourself to be: the One who goes to the lowly, who lifts up the needy, and raises up those in the ash heap.
And so, God, as many of us are struggling to even lean in this morning—many of us are struggling to know: are you good, God? do you care, Lord?—would you reconvince our hearts again of the gospel? Would you reconvince our hearts again of our Savior, who suffered outside of the camp; who was stripped naked, and bruised, and abandoned by all who should have loved him and should have received him; who was made to be an outcast? O God, you entered into our suffering in an infinite way, that we could never fully enter into your suffering, God.
So, God, we thank you that you are the only God with scars. That this is the God we serve: who knows our pain to an infinite degree, and who rose victoriously, and who promises us that this is not the end of the story for us. For all who put our hope in you, God, we will receive a resurrection, a new body, a new earth. And we long for that day: we groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. God, we groan, and we look to you, and we know that even when we don’t know how to pray as we ought, your Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that are too deep for words—that are in accordance with your will. And so, Lord, we lean on that this morning, and we ask that you would take our groans and take our weeping and take our pain and turn them into beauty, turn them into praise. This is something that only you can do, O God, so we look to you.
And we ask, Jesus, that you would carry each and every one of us. That we would be the body of Christ: to each other and to this dying world, so desperately in need of hope. Minister to our hearts, today, so that we can be strengthened in you to minister to other people’s hearts—who need you, Jesus, as much as we need you.
We ask that you would be with the family of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and the many others—there’s just such a long list, God. Be with their families, be with their loved ones, comfort them, encourage them, Lord. Help them, provide for them, O God. And help us now, as we worship you and turn our hearts to you in the only way that we know how.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Quina Aragon is also a contributor to His Testimonies, My Heritage. Hear the voices of women of color on the most important subject in any age—the word of God.
Hear the voices of women of color on the most important subject in any age—the word of God.
This inspiring collection of devotions is by a diverse group of women of color—African-American, Hispanic, Caribbean, and Asian women. Contributors include Kristie Anyabwile, Jackie Hill-Perry, Trillia Newbell, Elicia Horton, Christina Edmondson, Blair Linne, Bev Chao Berrus and more.
Quina Aragon is an author and spoken word artist residing in Tampa, FL with her husband Jon and young daughter.
