Prayer Offered for January 4, 2024

Gracious universal presence, we ask You to make our year a happy one,
Not by shielding us from sorrow and pain,
But by strengthening us to bear it, as it comes;

Not by making our path easy,
But by making us sturdy to travel any path;

Not by taking hardships from us,
But by taking fear from our heart;
Not by granting us unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping our face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making our life always pleasant,
But by showing us the people and their struggles that need us most.
May we radiate Your love, peace, hope, and joy in the year ahead.—AMEN.