God, let me tell you now

that I have always longed

to find myself beloved,

to know that someone

is well pleased with me.

I know the shame

of being despised,

the loneliness

of being invisible,

the ache of hating

myself.

When I am praying, 

I want the heavens to open

and a voice to tell me

I am beloved.

​

So, let me stand with Jesus,

and may he stand with me,

so that I may also know

that I am beloved of you.

​

And then I could stand with all the unloved

and tell them of this love of yours.

And let your Spirit fall ...

​

Taken from the URC Prayer Handbook 2025, by Susan Durber