Here’s a session from my book A Calendar of Classic Prayer, featuring a prayer from the celebrated Samuel Johnson, known above all, of course, for his publication of A Dictionary of the English Language in 1755. His words, here, have much to teach us on the subject of faith and doubt: one that challenges us all at some point, if not many, in our journey of discipleship.
Introduction
Few people have had a more enquiring mind or sharper intellect that Dr Samuel Johnson (1709–84), so you might think that few equally would have been better qualified to wrestle with the mysteries of life, including questions of faith. I’ve no doubt that he did ponder many such matters, yet, as the following prayer shows, he had sufficient wisdom to realise that some things are and always will be beyond human comprehension. His words here echo the words of Job (42:2-3): ‘I know that you can do anything, and that nothing is beyond you. I have spoken of mysteries I do not understand, things so wonderful they are beyond my comprehension’, or of David in Psalm 131:1, 2: ‘My heart, Lord, does not get above itself, nor are my eyes high and mighty. I do not fret about matters too awesome and special to understand. Rather, like an infant with its mother I am peaceful and still in my soul. That’s what I’m like: a little child.’ We are right to seek enlightenment, but if we can’t explain something, that doesn’t make it wrong. When it comes to God, we need faith as well as understanding: the two go hand
in hand.
Prayer
O Lord, my Maker and Protector,
who has graciously sent me into this world to work out my salvation,
enable me to drive from me all such unquiet and perplexing thoughts
as may mislead or hinder me in the practice of those duties
which thou hast required.
When I behold the works of thy hands
and consider the course of thy providence,
give me grace always to remember that thy thoughts
are not my thoughts,
nor thy ways my ways.
And while it shall please thee to continue me in this
world where much is to be done
and little to be known,
teach me by thy Holy Spirit
to withdraw my mind from unprofitable and
dangerous enquiries,
from difficulties vainly curious,
and doubts impossible to be solved.
Let me rejoice in the light which thou hast imparted,
let me serve thee with active zeal, and humble
confidence,
and wait with patient expectation for the time
in which the soul which thou receivest,
shall be satisfied with knowledge.
Grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen.