Morning prayer · 23 March

Even in anger, mercy

A storm cloud overhead with one gentle raindrop falling, but the lightning inside it has turned soft and small, like anger holding itself back to let mercy through.

Merciful God, full of compassion, patient and deeply kind, you spare us when we deserve punishment, and even in your anger you remember mercy. Help me truly turn around and be sorry with all my heart for everything I’ve done wrong. Make the memory of it so heavy that I run to you with a troubled spirit and a broken heart. Merciful Lord, come to me, comfort me and lift me up. Don’t send me away from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Stir up real sorrow in me. In this world, give me knowledge of your truth and confidence in your mercy, and in the world to come, life that lasts forever. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Joel 2:13 (BSB)

Adapted from Samuel Johnson, Prayers and Meditations (1785), in plain words. The verse is from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Drawing: Mutter.