Liturgies for Hope: 5 Prayers for Seeking JoySample

A Liturgy For Those Embracing The Mystery Of Faith

When we question everything we once thought we believed,

help us, Gentle Teacher, to be brave explorers of the unknown.

When doubts multiply in our minds,

help us not to be afraid but to be curious.

When questions arise about Your existence,

Your goodness,

the way of Your salvation,

help us press in and believe that You are present in the mystery.

Teacher, we’re longing for someone to give us assurance.

We measure You with our own intellect,

looking for answers from books, academia, pop culture, and critics.

But faith is impossible when we seek it within the bounds of our understanding.

We become fools when we claim to be wise.

So help us reach beyond what we know.

Help us step into wonder,

into learning,

into trusting You for flourishing.

The adventure of faith is there.

We are like sheep without a shepherd,

listening to the wisdom of the world,

allowing ourselves to be discipled by culture.

Would You liberate us from our compulsive need to understand?

Would You marvelously kindle our imaginations?

Would You help us hold space for not knowing?

For being wrong?

For trusting You with what we can’t comprehend?

Give us a spirit of humility all the days of our lives so we keep coming back to You.

Oh God, echoes of Your essence vault across the sky from sunrise to sunset.

Help us seek You with urgency and wonder,

with childlikeness instead of childishness,

until a foundation of faith—sturdy and timeless—is revealed.

Warm our hearts to faith and wonder as we wait for You.

Though we bring more questions than answers,

though the discomfort of doubt threatens to unravel us,

in faith we treasure the tension of this promise:

With man, this is impossible.

With God, all things are possible.

Keep us alive in our famine of faith until we become what we believe.

In weakness, yes, we do believe.

Help our unbelief.

Amen.

Reflection Question: What is one persistent doubt that you have? How can you reframe that doubt into a question for God?