UNBROKEN PRAYER | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 15, 1874

UNBROKEN PRAYER.

The subjoined lines, from the sweet Southern poet whose name they bear, were written by request. The occasion was this: “At the close of a delightful communion season, in the early part of the year, a lady in feeble health found herself at bed-time unable to kneel as usual or even to put together the words of prayer in a suitably connected form. She cast herself wearily upon her pillow, with clasped hands and prayerful spirit, uttering inaudibly the words, ‘I lean my heart on Jesus,’ and fell asleep, conscious that her act of worship had been accepted.”—Earnest Worker.

Too tired—too worn to pray, I can but fold my hands, Entreating in a voiceless way, Of Him who understands How flesh and heart succumb— How will sinks, weary—weak, “Dear Lord, my languid lips are dumb, See what I cannot speak.”

Just as the wearied child, Through sobbing pain opprest, Drops, hushing all its wailings wild, Upon its mother’s breast, So, on thy bosom, I Would cast my speechless prayer, Nor doubt that thou wilt let me lie In trustful weakness there.

And, though no conscious thought Before me rises clear, The prayer, of wordless language wrought, Thou yet wilt deign to hear; For when, at best, I plead, What so my spirit saith, I only am the bruised reed, And thou the breathing breath. —Margaret J. Preston.