When I carry the wild grief
of this world like a bag of bones
in my heart tangled with fear,
outrage kicking and shrieking
the whole way –
into in the silence
of prayer,
I am healed.

Miraculous
calm
fills me
instead.

Love
gradually
begins to overflow
out of my heart
back into the world
that broke me,
and I believe that’s
how we create
real and lasting peace –
one brave journey
into the Silence
at a time.

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” —Saint Francis de Sales

Have you discovered the deep wellspring of inner peace that can be found through contemplative prayer?

When we bring all of our concerns into the silence and persevere in prayer, gradually the debris of our emotions can melt away into a deeper sense of perspective, peace, joy, love and wisdom to guide us through life.

In prayer, our hearts become more sensitive to the suffering world, and we are healed from a need to judge, condemn and control others. In prayer, our intentions are purified, and our love for others increases. In prayer, our divisive mindsets melt away, and we are given the grace to serve others in a more positive, pure-hearted way than is otherwise possible.

What has your experience of contemplative prayer? Do you regularly take time to enter into the silence with God? What’s stopping you? Comment below, and I’ll be delighted to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Lord, thank you for being present with us in the silence of prayer. Give us the grace to persevere in spending time with You even when it’s hard to confront the awareness that arises when we do. Purify our hearts and intentions, and heal our souls, so we can better ripple out waves of Your true peace into the world through our prayers and actions. In Jesus name, we pray Amen.

Written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 8/10/2020