# Living Psalm 31_ Torigian for May 3, 2026

You are the great refuge, God.

You are the basement in the springtime storms
And the medicine as we heal from various ailments.
You are the peace entering our hearts as we attempt to settle after reading the news
And our fortress of hope when the winds of hate blow in our direction.

Come here.  Allow me to whisper into your ear, holy one.
Allow me to cry with you
And scream the thoughts from my mind.

Rescue me from the nightmares of this world
And the surreal landscape of our lives.
Rescue me from the grief hanging on to my soul.
Be my rock and my strength.
Guide me through the labyrinths of confusion
And lead me through the thorny paths of hate.

As I abide in the shadows
I recommit myself to your love and to your children.
You redeem me, never giving up on me, and you continue to call me to serve you.
Help me to escape from the wandering tongues of my enemies-
May they forget my name. May it slip from their tongues.

Allow me to see a future with overflowing possibilities,
And may any bumpy path ahead be illuminated by your steadfast light. 
Your grace glows on the road before us.

May your everlasting love continue to save me
And lead me to care for your beloved world.

Rev. Michelle Torigian is a hospital chaplain in Belleville, Illinois.