OT 43

Lord and God,

We speak to you, our King. Out of our distress and anguish, we speak. When no one else can comfort us, we turn to you. When there is pain and sorrow and despair, you will hear us. If we make death our comfort, our hope is lost—but not in Christ.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struckdown, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Bring us to life in him.