January often gives us cold spells with sub-zero temperatures and many inches of snow. I am reminded of a night in January, 1960 when I attended a CELAM Latin American conference at the old Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. It was 15 degrees below zero outside and the wind was howling off Lake Michigan.
Cardinal Richard Cushing, the Archbishop of Boston (1944-1970) and a lifelong friend of the Kennedys, got up to speak at 10:00 PM. He captivated me and an audience of over 1,000 people for over an hour. He had a way with words. Here is one of his notable offerings that he often gave on much warmer nights……
A Prayer for Bad Times
Dear God,
Help me to be a good sport in this game of life. I don’t ask for an easy place in the lineup. Put me anywhere you need me.
I only ask that I can give you 100 percent of everything I have. If all the hard drives seem to come my way, I thank you for the compliment.
Help me remember that you never send a player more trouble than he can handle.
And, help me, Lord, to accept the bad breaks as part of the game. May I always play on the square, no matter what the others do. Help me study the Book so I’ll know the rules.
Finally, God, if the natural turn of events goes against me and I’m benched for sickness or old age, help me to accept that as part of the game too. Keep me from whimpering that I was framed or that I got a raw deal.
And when I finish the final inning, I ask for no laurels. All I want is to believe in my heart that I played as well as I could and that I didn’t let you down. Amen.
Do pray this Prayer For Bad Times when YOU have the need.
My Commentary:
This prayer speaks with the honest humility of someone who understands life is not meant to be easy, but meaningful.
It does not ask for escape from hardship, only for the strength to show up fully wherever God places us. There is quiet courage in that request. It recognizes that difficulty is not a punishment, but often a sign of trust — an invitation to grow in endurance, faith, and character.
The prayer also names something rare and noble: integrity. Playing “on the square” even when others do not. Studying the Book to know the rules. Accepting bad breaks without bitterness or blame. This is faith lived out in the ordinary pressures of life, where character is tested most.
Perhaps the most moving moment comes at the end — the acceptance of being benched by sickness or age. There is no self-pity here, only surrender. Life’s seasons change, and faith means trusting God not just in action, but in limitation.
In the end, the prayer asks for no applause, no trophies, no recognition. Only the quiet assurance that the game was played with heart, honesty, and faithfulness.
That is not just a prayer for bad times.
It is a prayer for a life well lived.
PEOPLE WATCH YOU SURVIVING AND WONDER WHY YOU HAVEN’T LOST YOUR MIND. MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM…..JESUS!!
Who doesn’t need a Prayer For Bad Times? Please share this one: TreatsfortheSoul.org. And listen to my Podcast!
