During this season of reflection, we are bombarded with opinions in the media of what went wrong or, less frequently, what might have gone right. I will refrain from adding to the mire.
In a collection of prayers by various Puritan authors, entitled The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett comes this prayer.
Year’s End
O Love beyond compare,
Thou art good when thou givest,
when thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation
of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me during
another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With thee as the blessed Pilot of my future
as of my past.
I bless thee that thou hast veiled my eyes
to the waters ahead.
If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
thou wilt be with me in them;
If I pass through tempests of persecution
and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see Thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only to glorify Thyself in me whether in comfort
or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always
for thy use.
I think the Puritans got it right.
Bill Erickson
Devotional Blog 