Creator God,

The last few years have been hard in so many unexpected ways. We all have endured many losses in our lives—whether that loss is a job, community, or even peace; however, it is the friends and family members that have been lost that is the most difficult burden to bear. 

Of course, we know that they are not truly lost. Jesus’ sacrifice ensures that not one is lost to you and they are just lost to us for the moment. Yet we still grieve over those who have gone ahead of us because we miss their daily presence in our lives.

We ask you, Creator, to begin the work of restoration. You have given us so many stories of restoration as hope for our situation. You restored your people, the Israelites, again and again. You restored the relationship between Joseph and his brothers. You restored status, family, and peace to Job. We know that restoring us in this nebulous Covid-19 life is more than possible for you. Let that work begin in each of us as we release burdens, mourn losses, and search for hope. 

You remind us that we are “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) to encourage us. We desperately need encouragement now and, more than just honoring the lost, we offer gratitude for the Saints who surround us and give us examples of encouragement.  We ask for grace and strength to live in a way that follows the examples set for us by the Saints—our predecessors in faith.  

And we thank you for the first in the line of witnesses, Jesus our Liberator, and for his example in life, his faithfulness in death, and the hope that exists because of his resurrection.

Amen.