Childlike Trust Beyond Knowledge

ALMIGHTY GOD! we give Thee thanks that one who knew Thee so well, and loved Thee so deeply, and sought after Thee so passionately; who cried unto Thee so strongly, who sang unto Thee so sweetly, who left Thee so sadly, who came back to Thee so penitently and was received by Thee so mercifully, could leave to us this his word, “The Lord preserveth the simple.” For we would be simple in the Divine sense, lowly, childlike, dwelling in Thee. The knowledge of Thy works is too great for us, we cannot reach unto it; we can think of little before we are astonished, we can muse but little before we are lost in wonder; if we look backward, the darkness gathers, round us; if we look forward, the mists are close and thick. Thy doings are too wonderful for us!

What can we do but be simple souls, content with few precepts and two short commandments, which are the sum of the whole matter? What can we do but be content with a few duties that we can clearly see? Oh that we as faithfully did them as we can clearly behold them! What can we do but leave all things to Thee—for all is Thine, and we cannot understand whence we come, or whither we go, or how? When the shadow of death falls upon us, what is our knowledge? Our eyes have long been strained into the dark, if haply we might see the trail of those who have gone before. How little light we have! How much faith we should have! We are but as children groping in the dark.

Help us to trust in Thee; and when we know not Thy ways to put all our ignorance quietly by, and trust in Thee, and declare to all men that Thou knowest when we know not; Thou art strong when we are weak; Thou art wise when we are foolish; Thou knowest all things, but we are of small understanding. And if any of us chafe against these things, the little knowledge and the little light; if we would fain understand more and see further, and we rebel against those things that are hidden from us, make us wise. Thou art the helper of the simple. We would be wisely simple, childlike, trustingly, faithfully simple. Help Thou us.

We ask not for the help that cometh through knowledge, nor even the help that cometh through light. Shouldst Thou increase our knowledge, we would bless Thee; shouldst Thou increase our light, we would praise Thee; but should knowledge be denied us and light not come, still let us cry unto Thee, “Thy right hand shall guide me.” “At Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Our hand is helpless, Thine is strong; join Thy hand to ours and all is well; touch us and we are healed and uplifted; speak to us and there is peace; speak to the storms of life and they sink; speak to death and it is doomed; speak to the grave and it is glorified; speak to the decaying dust and resurrection comes.

Lord God! let our prayer be to Thee. Helper of the Helpless! help us! We need Thy help, we are but simple souls at best. Let Thy right hand lead and guide us until such time as we, too, shall find that at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Hear us of Thy mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.—AMEN.