“But God will shoot his arrow at them; they will be wounded suddenly. Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake with horror. Then everyone will fear; they will tell what God has brought about, and ponder what he has done.”–Psalm 64:7-9
“Let their table be a trap for them, a snare for their allies. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be a desolation; let no one live in their tents. For they persecute those whom you have struck down, and those whom you have wounded they attack still more. Add guilt to their guilt; may they have no acquittal from you. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.”–Psalm 69:22-28
All honor and praise be given to God on high for not answering prayer.
If you answered us, we’d all be dead.
Thank you for not annihilating our enemies,
even when we ask for it,
or annihilating us when our enemies say their prayers.
Thank you for being more merciful
than we want you to be.
Thank you for listening to our anger
and to our violent inclinations,
and telling us, “No.”
“I will not send calamity
on your cheating ex, your controlling
boss, or your abusive father.
Cast all your hurts upon me.
But I will not wage your wars.
I will understand all your pain.
I will bind all your wounds.
And then I will ask you
to become mercy.
Mercy will feel like a re-opening of the wound,
but it will not be.
It will be the sting of disinfectant,
keeping you from disease.
I will not let your victimhood
turn you sour.
So come to me.
Bring me your enemies
as well as your wrath
and we will do business.
I will exchange your hardship
for strength and growth and recovery.
Lay on me all your most painful memory
and I will make beauty from ashes.
In answer to your prayers,
God.”
Kyndall Rae Rothaus is the pastor of Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. On Sunday, May 31, 2015, she was called by Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, to be their new pastor. Kyndall is the author of Preacher Breath, available at Smyth and Helwys. She blogs at kyndallrae.com.