“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

Lord, the world is full of crushed and broken people, people left full of empty spaces after tragedy comes like the thief in the night, robbing them of their loved ones, robbing them of their peace and of their joy – leaving them with gaping holes in their hearts and in their lives – spaces that need to be filled – spaces that only You are able to fill.

There are many in Texas right now in desperate need of You, Heavenly Father. Their hearts have been broken wide open and their spirits crushed by the loss of their loved ones who were swept away by the flood waters which most certainly came as the thief in the night, leaving behind destruction, devastation – raw pain, open wounds – everything laid bare – all the cracks and holes in our hearts and our souls exposed for all to see.

Who will enter in to such overwhelming grief and sorrow? You, Heavenly Father, have said that You will enter in and that You will stay with us through whatever we encounter. We have Your promise –

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Lord, I pray that Your Presence enter in and fill all the empty spaces, all the open wounds, fill every crack and crevice currently filled with pain, with Your comfort and hope and love – You alone must fill these spaces if the people are to continue on after so great a loss. Please be the Lifter of every head, the Healer of every broken heart and the Mender of every crushed spirit. Lord Jesus, may those suffering loss know that You truly experience and carry their pain right now in these unbearable moments and days. We know You do because Isaiah said this about You –

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. . . . Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5)

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19)

Lord Jesus, You Yourself are described as a man of sorrows. You know what it is to grieve and You too, have been crushed in spirit. We know You cried when Lazarus died, even though You knew You were going to bring him back to life in just a few moments. Yet still, You cried. You understand our grief. And You grieve right along with us.

Let Your Presence fill, sustain and protect all those left wounded and defenseless in the wake of the floods. Let them remember the promise of Your words –

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. . . . For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:10 & 13)

Lord, those who are grieving need Your help now as never before. May they experience today this reality, described in Your Living Word –

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Heavenly Father, enter in to all these shattered lives, fill all the empty spaces with Your restoring, redeeming, life-giving Presence which “fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:23) Be mighty to save. Quiet their mourning spirits with the infinite, unfailing love You have for each one of us. May they know with assurance that just as “not a sparrow falls to the ground without Your knowing it” – You hold in Your hands each one that the flood waters took from our hands. As they grieve, may it not be as those without hope – BUT –

“May the God of hope fill them with all joy and peace as they trust in You, Lord, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Lord God, let Your love, stronger and deeper than any flood waters, surround those who are mourning, let Your love fill all their empty spaces, may Your love sustain them and carry them. Heavenly Father, we pray for all impacted by this flood, the same thing the apostle Paul prayed so many centuries ago,

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Heavenly Father, heal every hole in every heart, create a new spirit in the crushed and fill every empty space with Your abiding love.

sincerely, Grace Day