In Time of Trouble

by Julian of Norwich

WHEN THE SOUL IS TEMPEST-TOSSED, troubled and cut off by worries, then is the time to pray, so as to make the soul willing and responsive towards God. But there is no kind of prayer that can make God more responsive to the soul, for God is always constant in love.

And so I saw that, whenever we feel the need to pray, our good Lord follows us, helping our desire.

And, when, by his special grace, we behold him clearly, knowing no other need, then we follow him and he draws us to himself by love.

For I saw and understood that his great overflowing love brings all gifts to fulfillment.

I saw, too, that his unceasing work in everything is done so well, so wisely and so mightily that it is beyond our power to imagine, or guess, or think.


From Julian of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love, edited by Clifton Wolters (Bungay, UK: Penguin Books, 1966).