Day 3 - I made you wonderful

Today is World Day of Prayer and the theme this year is “I made you wonderful” based on Psalm 139:1-18. The service has been developed by women from the Cook Islands, a nation of fifteen islands in Polynesia. All the islands together are not as big as the Isle of Wight.

The symbol for the World Day of Prayer since 1982 is a design made up of four arrows coming together from north, south, east and west. It represents people kneeling in prayer, the celtic cross and the circle – symbolising unity.

This year’s theme emphasises that every person is created by and loved by God. This is something unfortunately close to the hearts of many women in the Cook Islands, as the rate of domestic abuse is roughly three times higher than in the UK. The following prayer uses words from Psalm 138 (NIV) and is written from the perspective of women in abusive relationships.

Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote: “you perceive my thoughts from afar” so you know that although I believe in you and your power, sometimes it seems I pray and my prayers go unheard. I was physically abused by my father, so I married the first man who appeared to like me. He abuses me in ways I am too ashamed even to name before you, Almighty God.

I read that “you lay your hand upon me”; is your hand on me when other hands are harming me? Why can’t I feel your touch and the healing you offer? Your word promises that I cannot “flee from your presence” so you must be with me when I suffer.

Where were you, Jesus my Saviour, when I miscarried after I was attacked? I know that child is in Heaven with you, but I wanted to hold him or her and whisper words of love and safety. “Your right hand will hold me fast”, so Lord I ask you to give me the strength to phone the hotline and report what is happening in my life. I know I am not alone; what I have read in the papers indicates that among my neighbours, many are suffering too. Please be with me as I start the process of being a free person. For too long I have thought “Surely the darkness will hide me” and you are not aware of me but I know that I need to act, otherwise one day I will end up in hospital or the morgue.

Holy Spirit, I believe that you were there when I was conceived and that “my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place”. For too long I have thought that being set free from my abuser is impossible but in your strength I will no longer be afraid and feel trapped. With your help I will break free and become the person you “wonderfully made”.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, on this World Day of Prayer, extend my personal prayers to cover all women, and indeed men, who are abused around the world. Give us all the strength to speak out and become free. Amen.

Elaine Kinchin