BLOG: Graceful Growth by Juanita Ryan

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for the living God, When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42: 1-2 We can go days, even weeks without food. But we cannot go very long without water. Water is a basic survival need. When any of us are deprived of water for a while, our body begins to ache. Our stomach hurts, our head throbs, our mouth and … [Read more...] about Longing as Prayer

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?” Luke 1: 18 We may think of prayer as an act of faith. And so it is. But prayer can also be an honest expression of our uncertainty and doubt. We want to trust God. We want to have faith. But we have so many questions. So many things are unclear and uncertain. Where do we take our doubts if not to God? Where do we voice our uncertainties if … [Read more...] about Doubt as Prayer

How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. Habakkuk 1:2-3 These words of protest are not the words of a cynic. They are not the words of a scoffer. These are the … [Read more...] about Protest as Prayer

Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Psalm 10:1 The psalmist addressed urgent questions to God. Where are you God? Where are you when we really need you? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? These are desperate, challenging questions. The psalmist is not posing these questions to a religious leader or scholar in hopes of getting some resolution … [Read more...] about Questioning God as Prayer

Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Psalm 10:1 The psalmist addressed urgent questions to God. Where are you God? Where are you when we really need you? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? These are desperate, challenging questions. The psalmist is not posing these questions to a religious leader or scholar in hopes of getting some resolution … [Read more...] about Questioning God as Prayer

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3 Prayer is being heard by God. Prayer is based on the amazing reality that God hears us. God hears our words. God hears our hearts. As the psalmist says, God … [Read more...] about Being Heard by God as Prayer

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her, You are the God who sees me, for she said, I have now seen the One who sees me. Genesis 16:13 This prayer, recorded in Genesis 16, is the prayer of Hagar, the Egyptian servant of Abraham and Sarah. Years after God had promised Abraham and Sarah children, and no children had come, they took it upon themselves to “build a family through” this servant … [Read more...] about Being Seen by God as Prayer

Hello dear ones. We, as a world wide community, are experiencing an extraordinary moment together. I hope you are safely sheltered in place. I pray that you are finding some peace in the midst of the fears, patience in the midst of the waiting and comfort in the midst of the grief. I will be posting over the next many months from my book An Enduring Embrace: Discovering the Love at the Heart … [Read more...] about Prayer in a Pandemic

Hello dear ones. We, as a world wide community, are experiencing an extraordinary moment together. I hope you are safely sheltered in place. I pray that you are finding some peace in the midst of the fears, patience in the midst of the waiting, comfort in the midst of the grief. I will be posting over the next many months from my book An Enduring Embrace: Discovering the Love at the Heart of … [Read more...] about Prayer in a Pandemic

Dear Older Self, I know that as you look back over your life you will remember times that were difficult. There were times when you felt devalued and unloved. There were also times when you talked or acted in ways that were unloving and dismissive of other people. When you remember times in which you failed to love and value other people, try not to turn away from them. This is part of your … [Read more...] about Notes to Our Older Selves: Affirm Your True Value