Prayer for Pastors

In these many silent days
of weariness and retreat,
of vacations and work,
of new callings and retirements
or stepping away to exhale from sameness,
of placing one foot in front of the other
in energy-draining heat
or in lingering cold,
of seeking a quenching moment
in the midst of great thirst,
of births and deaths
and baptisms and funerals,
of laughing so hard
that there is a gasping for breath
or weeping with others
until there are no tears left,
of both thanksgivings of good health
and prayers for healing,
of time spent
with friends and family
and mentors,
of conferences and denominations
and decisions …
LORD GOD,
Be with these silent pastors
as they remain silent for a little longer…
as they withdraw from their silence …
as they pray to be filled with your Word …
Grace-filled in all of these times
so that they might share your grace
in our not-so-silent world.

Amen.