In a recent devotion, the leader shared a prayer from Thomas Merton, an American Trappist monk whose poetry and writings have given voice to matters of the heart. Sometimes, it seems he provides the words for the things we want to say.
Below is the prayer we shared that morning. It is a confession of vulnerability. We do not have to have all of the answers, but we do need to trust that God does and commit ourselves to living into God’s will.
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen.
Faithfully,
Pastor Scarlett