The Knot at the End of the Rope (Summer 2013)

Lord, I can’t take it anymore,
      this life you’ve given is no gift;
but an unending experience of pain:
      a gift that just keeps giving.

I’ve done my best;
      worked the program,
done my exercises,
      used my tools.

But it’s futile.
      Nothing helps.
You know it;
      and I know it.

What I once enjoyed,
      and took for granted,
is no longer possible;
      day-dreams of lakes,
and hiking in the woods,
      mock me.

So please tell me:
      why keep going?
What could make this pain
      worth enduring?

Where is the knot
      at the end of the rope?

I can keep myself drugged,
      strung out like a junkie.
I can refuse to do anything,
      not get out of bed.

Lord, do you hear me?
      Father, will you answer me?
The pain is too much,
      my ability to cope too small.

I am so tired, bone-weary;
      desperate for hope.

Amen

---

Limited permission is granted for reuse of this prayer in worship or other venues. If printed in any form attribution must be given as "Glenn Pemberton, mosaicsite.org/glennpemberton." Special permission is required to print three or more of these prayers at one time in any form, print, electronic, etc., and must be secured by request at gdp05b@acu.edu.