And He answered, “Learn to know Me inwardly.”
I said, “O Lord, if I saw Thee amongst thousands, I could not but know Thee.”
And then I said further, “This burden is too heavy for me.”
And He answered me, “I will lay it so close to Myself, that thou mayest easily bear it. Follow Me, and see how I stood before My Father on the Cross, sustaining all.”
Then did I ask Him to bless me; and He said, “I always bless thee. Thy sorrow shall turn to a good blessing for thee.”
And I said no more but this, “O Lord, come Thou thus to the help of all who love to suffer for Thee.”
The Prayer of the Longing Heart.
There was one who for a long while, amidst the mercies of God, and also many sorrows, longed continually that God would release the soul and take her to Himself. And the Lord said to her, “Wait.” Then did the suffering one answer, “Lord, I cannot cease from longing. Oh, how gladly would I be with Thee!” Then said the Lord—
“Before the worlds, O soul, I longed for thee;
And still I long, and thou dost long for Me;