Finding God in Creation, Duty, and Sorrow

O LORD our God! we bless Thee that by Thy grace we can feel Thy presence in the soul. Make us feel what treasures there are within us which we have not yet found out, and let them be to us an earnest of that blessed life into which we hope to enter.

O Lord! what were this poor short earthly life if Thou hadst not promised to us an eternal life? Without Thee what were the sun but a poor lamp? But, Lord, if Thou art, and we know that Thou art, then is the sun a light to guide us in the right way.

Without Thee what were the moon? We watch it and it grows; we watch it and it fades away, subject, like us, to chance and change. But Lord, if Thou art, and we know that Thou art, then is the moon to us a light set by Thee to guide the traveller across the deep.

Without Thee, what were the stars? We know not what they are; but we look at them and they look at us, and we love them, for Thou hast set them there.

This world, O Lord, is fair, and there are times when we feel that it is good to be here; but without Thee what were it? It opens to give us food, and it opens to receive our loved ones; and the storm comes, and the tempest carries away our treasures, and we are driven forward to our eternal home. But, Lord, if Thou art, and we know that Thou art, then this world is to us the house where Thou hast placed us for a time to discipline our souls.

Without Thee, what were our work? But, Lord, if Thou art, and we know that Thou art, then is our duty the service appointed to us by the great Taskmaster. Brighten for us this day our duty, since it is the lot which Thou hast appointed us, the road that Thou wouldst have us to walk in.

Without Thee, what were all these sorrows and pains and troubles? But, Lord, if Thou art, and we know that Thou art, then are they the rod with which Thou dost in mercy chastise us. Make us to believe these things in our innermost souls, we pray Thee, for Christ's sake.—AMEN.