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 I will 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. ~Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude (Part Two, Chapter II)
Sandra,
This:
“But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.”
It gives me hope like nothing else has during this very hard, long week.
Thank you for blessing me.
What a great prayer. I agree, just like when our children really try to please us and may fall short-just the willingness is wonderful. Blessings**
Such reassurance in those words, Sandra! Being human, we cannot always achieve what we desire, but he knows our hearts.
I have had that prayer taped inside my Bible ever since I was 17 years old. I read/prayed it again the other day and smiled knowing that it was still just exactly how I felt as I head to the Laity Lodge next week (even though I’m grown up now… sort of.) I see we are both from MI… just wanted to say hi …it will be fun to meet you. Thanks for the prayer.
Beautiful prayer, Sandra. And photo as well. I also believe our desire to please has some merit. We are too weak in and of ourselves to meet any perfect criteria. He is very patient and loving with us, as long as we are trying.