Julian of Norwich on Prayer 2 – Abdur Rahman’s Corner
Peace, one and all…
In this section, Julian explores the relationship between prayer and trust, or tawakkul in Arabic. This is arguably one of the most beautiful and profound passages in her entire work, and speaks deeply to this heart. Again, there are clear doctrinal differences between her Christian faith and Islamic teaching, but there is also significant overlap.
May the hearts of the lovers be opened.
‘Our Lord God’s will is that we should have a real understanding of prayer, and in particular of three things. The first is to know through whom and how our prayer starts. He shows through whom when he says, ‘I am the foundation’, and he shows how, when by his goodness he says, ‘It is my will’. The second is to know how we should best use prayer. The answer is, in fact, that our will should be joyfully subject to the will of the Lord. This is the meaning of ‘I make you to will it’. The third is that we should know what is the outcome and purpose of our prayers, namely, that we should be united with our Lord and like him in everything. This is the intention and reason behind this loving lesson. He will help us, and we shall make what he says be true. Bless him!
This is our Lord’s intention: that our prayer and our trust alike be large hearted. If we do not trust as much as we pray we do not fully honour our Lord in our prayer; too, we harm and hold ourselves up. The cause, I believe, is due to our not realising that our Lord is the foundation from which our prayer starts. Nor do we realise that our ability to pray is itself given us by his loving grace. For if we did know this, it would mean that we really believed that we should have all we wanted, given by our Lord. I am sure that no one genuinely asks for mercy and grace without mercy and grace having been given him first.
Sometimes it seems to us that we have been praying a long time, and yet we do not see any answer. We should not get despondent because of this. I believe our Lord intends by this either that we should await a more suitable time, or more grace, or a better gift. He wills that we should have a true knowledge of himself that he is all-being: our understanding must be rooted in the knowledge, as strongly, deliberately, and sincerely as we are able to make it. Here we are to stand and stay. By his own gracious light he wants us to understand the following things: (i) the distinction and excellence of our creation, (ii) the price and value of our redemption, and (iii) everything created has been put under us to serve us, and is upheld by him out of his love for us. This is his meaning, as if to say, ‘See, I have done all this long before your prayers; and now you exist, and pray to me’. He means that we ought to know that the greatest deeds are already done, as Holy Church teaches. Gratefully realising this we ought to be praying for the deed now in process, which is that he should rule and guide us in this life for his own glory, and bring us to bliss. It is for this reason that he has done it all. Moreover, he intends that just as we see him to be doing it, so we should pray for it as well. It is not enough just to do one without the other. For if we pray, not realising that he is already at work, it makes us despondent and sceptical – which is not honouring to him. And if we see him at work and do not pray, we do less than we ought. May that not happen – and may he not see it so! But to see that he is doing it, and to pray for it at the same time – that honours him, and benefits us. Everything that our Lord has ordained to do he wishes us to pray for either specifically or generally. His consequent happiness and joy, and our thanks and glory, pass our power to understand.
For prayer is the means whereby we rightly understand the fullness of joy that is coming to us: it is true longing, and sure trust too. Lack of happiness which is our natural lot makes us long for it. Real understanding, love, and the recollection of our Saviour enables us to trust. Our Lord sees us constantly at at work at these two things. It is not more than our duty, and no less than his goodness would assign to us. It is up to us to do our part with diligence, yet when we have done it, it will seem to us that we have done nothing … and rightly so. But if we do what we can, and truly ask mercy and grace, all that we lack we shall find in him. ‘I am the foundation of your praying’ means this. So in this blessed word, together with the revelation, I saw the complete victory over all our weakness and our doubting fear’.
Revelation of Divine Love, 42
