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
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.