Word of Encouragement (02/18/2022)

A prayer to finish the week:

I falter where I firmly trod,

And falling with my weight of cares

Upon the great world’s altar-stairs

That slope thro’ darkness up to God,

I stretch lame hands of faith and grope....

“ETERNAL God, You have been the hope and joy of many generations, and in all ages you have given women and men the power to seek you, and in seeking find you. Grant me, I pray, a clearer vision of your truth, a greater faith in your power, and a more confident assurance of your love.

When the way seems dark before me, give me grace to walk trustingly;

When so much is obscure to me, may I be all the more faithful to the little I can clearly see;

When the distant scene is clouded, may I rejoice that at least I can see the next step;

When what you are is hidden from my eyes, let me hold fast to what you command;

When I do not understand, may I remain obedient;

What I lack in faith, may I make up for in love.

“O infinite God, the brightness of your face is often covered from my human gaze. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to be a light in a dark world. O Christ, you are the Light of Light; thank you that in your most holy life you pierced the eternal mystery, as with a great beam of heavenly light, so that in seeing you, we see the One whom no human being has ever seen.

“And if I still cannot find you, O God, then let me search my heart and know whether it is I who am blind rather than you who are hidden; whether it is I who am running away from you rather than you from me. Help me to confess my sins before you, and seek your forgiveness in Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.”

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