A Prayer at the Edge of the Water

God who goes ahead of us in cloud and fire, we confess that when we are trapped we look for the nearest way back to Egypt. We have said, like your people, that slavery was at least familiar. Forgive us for preferring the known chain to the unknown road.

Teach us to be still. Quiet the part of us that must act, must fix, must explain, long enough to hear you. Fight for us in the battles we cannot win, and let us see it.

Then tell us to move on, and give us the courage to walk between walls of water on a path that did not exist yesterday. Do not let us mistake stillness for staying. When you open a way, make us people who take it.

You led Israel the long way for their sake. Where you are leading us the long way, help us to trust your reasons. Keep the pillar in front of us. And when we reach the far shore, remind us to sing.

Through Jesus, who passed through death ahead of us and came out the other side. Amen.