For such an eventful week, it is only fitting to share this prayer which was a mainstay in my devotional life during a series of deep valleys for me while I was in college (and continues to be today). For those of you currently going through a valley, may God give you a vision of Himself that sweetens your steps and provides a perspective to esteem such intimate providence as expressed in this prayer.
The Valley of Vision
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee
in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold
Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from
deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter
Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.
This prayer and others like it can be found in the book, The Valley of Vision (of which few if any books could be receive higher recommendation).