A Prayer for Strength During a Long Shift

Father, the clock has barely moved and my body already aches. My feet hurt, my eyes are heavy, and there are still hours of this shift in front of me before I can finally go home and rest.

I confess that somewhere in the tiredness I have grown short with people and resentful of the work. I started counting only the minutes and stopped seeing the reason any of this matters.

So I lean on You in the middle of this long stretch. You do not grow weary, and You give strength to the worn out and power to the faint.

Carry me through the hours I cannot feel my way through alone. Steady my hands for the tasks that demand care, soften my words with the people I serve, and keep me alert when my body begs to quit.

Your word promises that those who wait on You will renew their strength, that they will run and not grow weary, walk and not faint. Let that promise meet me here, on my feet, right now.

I give You what is left of my energy and trust You to multiply it. Get me to the end of this shift with my patience intact and my heart still kind. Amen.