By KAITLIN KLEIN
WONDERFUL ADVENTURE
From the false security that I have what it takes … deliver me, Jesus.
From anxiety about the future … deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of what love demands … deliver me, Jesus.
That you will teach me to trust you … Jesus, I trust in you.
These are prayers I need in my life every day. Thanks be to God (and the Sisters of Life, whose member composed this prayer), the Litany of Trust contains these petitions in addition to many more. It is a prayer I have come to know and love. It provides a foundation for my day, going back to the basics of trusting the Lord and giving him everything.
As the litany begins, we are reminded that we don’t have to earn Jesus’ love. We are loved completely and unreservedly. With this confidence, we next bring to mind our inability to do anything apart from the Lord. The prayer continues with, “From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute … deliver me, Jesus.” We are drawn to trust in Jesus completely and truly believe in his promises to the point of having “childlike dependency” on Him.
Another few lines encourage us to give our past, present and future to God, our Father. I can relate to having anxiety about the future and being too caught up in the past or present. Deliver me, Jesus, “from reluctances in accepting your will.”
Then comes one of my favorite lines: “From the fear of being asked to give more than I have … deliver me, Jesus.” I can breathe in the peace that He gives me all the graces I need. I admit to saying (both in my head and out loud) “I can’t do it!” particularly when parenting my toddler and infant. When I’m tired or lonely or discouraged, I always find the strength that the Lord so willingly sends when I think I have no more left to give.
Life has meaning. Life has worth. Jesus holds me and sustains me, and His “love goes deeper than my sins and failings, and transforms me.” I am strengthened by these words when I pray the related petitions. The next line I often pray more than once: “That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You … Jesus, I trust in you.” Beautiful. Our weakness and humanity begs us to rely on the Lord, who gives us everything we need.
He gives us everything we need even when we don’t believe it, and even when we’re suffering. Especially when we’re suffering. We pray in the litany that our suffering will “bear fruit in this life and the next.” We pray that the Lord’s plan is best, always. That he hears us, forgives us, and gives us each day as a gift. The prayer finishes with, “that You are my Lord and my God” and “that I am Your beloved one … Jesus, I trust in you.” What a powerful way to start the day. Or to keep us going midday. Or to guide our meditation as we fall asleep. It is always a good time to trust the Lord, and the Litany of Trust is a valuable way to keep going deeper.