Gracious Lord, you are the God who sees us. You are El Roi. You are the God who stands in the shadows to see your word performed. Even when we can’t see it happening, you are at work to fulfill you purpose. It will not be thwarted. In the struggle, we know you are there. In the victories, we know you are for us. We will praise you in calm or storm. We will stand for your glory, come sunshine and rain. We wait for the perfection of our hope in you. Though we see no fruit of our efforts, or your deeds, we chose unstoppable, stubborn joy in the Lord. I pray these things in the name and authority of Jesus, who signed our title to joy with his blood, according to your good and perfect will. Amen.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

eye I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3: 17-18 ESV)