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  • Writer's pictureRev. Sarina Odden Meyer

Morning Prayer: Doubt

The Call to Prayer

Turn to YHWH, to God’s strength, and seek God’s presence constantly.

1 Chronicles 16:11


The Request for Presence

Hear my prayer, O YHWH; let my cry come to you.

Do not hide your face from me on the day of my distress.

Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily on the day when I call.


Psalm 102:1-2

The Greeting

If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Death, you are there.

If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your mighty hand shall hold me fast.

Psalm 139:8-10


The Hymn

Lord Jesus, you shall be my song (PCC Hymn #665)

Les Pétites Soeurs de Jésus and L’Arche Community

https://youtu.be/xFxmIT_NJyo


Stanza four especially relates to the theme of doubt:

"I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey;

but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side.

And with all of the family you saved by your love,

we’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey."

(Translation by Stephen Somerville, 1970)



The Refrain

For if you yearn for insight

and cry out for understanding,

if you search for it as you would for silver,

and dig for it as you would for buried treasure,

you will understand what fear of YHWH is,

and discover how to truly know God.

Proverbs 2:3-5


A Reading

Faith is a Pot - A Poem About Doubt


My faith is a pot

and I’m outgrowing it.

My roots have grown

around and

around and

around.


The soil

no longer

has nutrients

no longer

holds water.

I am hungry.

I am thirsty.

This pot doesn’t work.


What’s wrong with it?

I remember

growing

thriving

here

in the past.

Why doesn’t it work

now?

Things I used to love

hurt.

Things I used to trust

fail.


I need a new pot.

My neighbours say

it’s too dangerous

to seek

to ask questions

to doubt

the integrity

of this pot.


To leave this pot:

my roots exposed

vulnerable

risk of death

fear.

To stay

is

the same.


So I go.

I leave what is familiar

I seek answers

for my questions

in the space between.

And then I see

a safe place

to land

that is bigger

nutrient rich

holds water.

God guides me there.


I land

I eat

I drink

I sigh

I relax


I look at the world

from a different

perspective

a different

vantage point.

I see God

as our shepherd

during doubt

through the space between

always there

always waiting

for us to decide

to seek

to question

to journey

into the unknown.


I thought

I was

a plant.

I think

I might be

a tree.

I never would have seen

this potential

if I had stayed

in the old

pot.

Rev. Sarina Odden Meyer


The Refrain

For if you yearn for insight

and cry out for understanding,

if you search for it as you would for silver,

and dig for it as you would for buried treasure,

you will understand what fear of YHWH is,

and discover how to truly know God.

Proverbs 2:3-5


The Psalm

I thank you with all my heart; I sing your praise before the gods.

I bow down in front of your holy Temple and praise your Name because of your love and faithfulness, for you have put above everything else your Name and your Word.

When I called, you answered me—you made me bold and strong of heart.

All the rulers of the earth will praise you, YHWH, when they hear the words of your mouth.

They will sing about what you have done, YHWH, and about your great glory.

Even though you are so high above, you care for the lowly and see arrogant people from far away.

Even when I’m surrounded by troubles, you keep me safe; you oppose the anger of my enemies, and save me with your right hand.

You will do everything you have promised me. YHWH, your love is eternal; don’t abandon the work of your hands.

Psalm 138


The Refrain

For if you yearn for insight

and cry out for understanding,

if you search for it as you would for silver,

and dig for it as you would for buried treasure,

you will understand what fear of YHWH is,

and discover how to truly know God.

Proverbs 2:3-5


The Gloria

All glory to Almighty God

for love so deep, so high, so broad!

The Trinity whom we adore

forever and forever more.

15th c. Latin, translated by Benjamin Webb

PCC Hymn #205 O love, how deep, how broad, how high


The Lord’s Prayer


The Prayer Appointed for the Day

O God of the spaces in between, you created space. Help us to trust you, even in our doubt, when we enter the spaces between pots. When we feel our roots uprooted, not knowing where we will land, please guide us. Help us—as we seek, as we ask, as we knock—to engage our critical thinking with our spirituality. While we go through this process, do not forsake the work of your hands—both us, and the space between. Guide us through our journey of doubt to a deeper knowledge of you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


The Concluding Prayer of the Church

God be in my head and in my understanding;

God be in my eyes and in my looking;

God be in my mouth and in my speaking;

God be in my heart and in my thinking;

God be at my end and at my departing.

R. Pynson (1514)


Scripture translations from the NRSV and The Inclusive Bible.

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