# I Used To Pray

Poem

Language: en  
Author: –By Adrianna Fanton  
Original issue: The Heartbeat of the Remnant, Winter 2020, Number 4  
Source pages: 34–35  
Read article: <https://remnant.truechristian.church/en/poetry/i-used-to-pray/>
Original PDF: Winter\-2020\-Remnant\-1\.pdf
[The Heartbeat of the Remnant, Winter 2020](<https://remnant.truechristian.church/en/issues/heartbeat-remnant-2020-winter/>)

I used to pray for sunshine,  
 No storms to mark the sky\.  
 For cool breezes and flowers  
 To please and turn my eye\.

I used to pray for happiness,  
 For smiles, joy, and peace\.  
 That all things would be easy,  
 And all harsh things would cease\.

I used to pray for someone,  
 To walk with in this life\.  
 To love, laugh with, and cherish,  
 And dissipate all strife\.

I used to pray that always  
 Life’s pathways would be clear\.  
 That no unwanted circumstance  
 Would make existence drear\.

But those prayers seemed to go unheeded,  
 For life didn’t flow that way\.  
 The storms—they came uninvited,  
 Thick rains made many a dark day\.

The flowers were not to be seen,  
 The wind did cut and slash\.  
 No peace could be found about me;  
 Instead, the thunder did crash\.

Not one was found to walk with me,  
 Alone, through rough ways I did roam\.  
 Gone were the dreams of tranquility,  
 My soul cried with desire for a home\.

Then, a rich voice spoke inside me,  
 “You’ve been seeking the things you can see\.  
 The true prayers of your heart can be answered,  
 If you would only but look unto Me\.

I have heard your needs and desires,  
 Your prayers did not fall unheard\.  
 But I saw that your heart needed different  
 Than the way that ease had preferred\.

You prayed for clear skies and sunshine,  
 For cool breezes and flowers to start\.  
 But I saw that just these would not yield you  
 The real peace you sought in your heart\.

I ordered the rough ways you have followed,  
 Not to disappoint, but to purge\.  
 For I knew that true happiness begins only  
 In the heart that with Me does merge\.”

So I fell at the feet of my Master  
 And yielded to His will and His plan\.  
 No longer demanding my wants now,  
 But trusting He’d finish what He began\.

Not long after, I found I was happy;  
 Not a cloud in my heart could prevail\.  
 Even if my circumstances seemed weary,  
 No outer storm my inner Sunshine could pale\.

The cool breezes of sweet rest in Him,  
 Did calm all my worries and fears\.  
 And always the flowers of His promises,  
 Were visible when life brought me tears\.

I found also, I no longer walked alone;  
 The Good Shepherd was there by my side\!  
 With Him I could share my joys and sorrows,  
 And amidst any battle, in Him I could hide\.

So now instead of praying  
 For things of earthly ease,  
 I thank the Lord for sending things  
 That brought me to my knees\.

I pray instead for humility,  
 To lead me through the day\.  
 For an eye to serve, and share the blessings,  
 That the Lord does send my way\.

I pray that my heart would be yielded,  
 To the touch of the Master’s hand\.  
 Allowing His will to change me,  
 Through everything He has planned\.

For I’ve found that true happiness,  
 Is not in a smooth, perfect life\.  
 But it’s found when in Christ we are rooted,  
 Not moved through fire or strife\.

If He rules the inmost being,  
 Then nothing outside will disturb\.  
 For He is the solid Foundation,  
 And the real source of True Life superb\.

![Sunrise over waves breaking along a rocky shore](<https://remnant.truechristian.church/images/articles/af526358-a4bb-44b9-aeec-2535f8ce9a29-1.jpg>)

## Magazine citation

- [Sunrise over waves breaking along a rocky shore](<https://remnant.truechristian.church/images/articles/af526358-a4bb-44b9-aeec-2535f8ce9a29-1.jpg>): Andrew Schwartz