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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Twenty-Ninth Chapter
HOW WE MUST CALL UPON AND BLESS THE LORD WHEN TROUBLE PRESSES
THE DISCIPLE
BLESSED be Your name forever, O Lord, Who have willed that this temptation and
trouble come upon me. I cannot escape it, yet I must fly to You that You may
help me and turn it to my good. Now I am troubled, Lord, and my heart is not at
rest, for I am greatly afflicted by this present suffering.
Beloved Father, what shall I say? I am straitened in harsh ways. Save me from
this hour to which, however, I am come that You may be glorified when I am
deeply humbled and freed by You. May it please You, then, to deliver me, Lord,
for what can I, poor wretch that I am, do or where can I go without You? Give me
patience, Lord, even now. Help me, my God, and I will not be afraid however much
I may be distressed.
But here, in the midst of these troubles, what shall I say? Your will be done,
Lord. I have richly deserved to be troubled and distressed. But I must bear it.
Would that I could do so patiently, until the storm passes and calm returns! Yet
Your almighty hand can take this temptation from me, or lighten its attack so
that I do not altogether sink beneath it, as You, my God, my Mercy, have very
often done for me before. And the more difficult my plight, the easier for You
is this change of the right hand of the Most High.
