A Prayer for Steadfastness
Each autumn I begin asking God to point me to a word or phrase that will help guide me through the upcoming year. My word for 2025 is “Steadfast,” and I have loved the many lessons this word has taught me during the past few months.
Recently, I have become curious about a woman named Evelyn Underhill. Born into a secular home in the late 1800’s, she believed she was an atheist and joined an occult group. In 1907, she had a profound Christian spiritual experience while spending time at a Catholic convent in England. Eventually she was confirmed into the Church of England where she remained throughout her lifetime. Her spiritual journey, however, was greatly influenced by working with a Catholic layman spiritual director, Friedrich von Hügel who encouraged her to experience Christ in a way that went more deeply than simply head knowledge.
In the 1920’s Underhill began attending and later led contemplative prayer retreats for the Church of England. T. S. Eliot, a British-American poet, playwright, essayist, and literary editor, observed, “With shrewdness and simplicity she [Underhill] helped support the spiritual life of many.” Underhill authored several books, many of which can still be found on Amazon.
I purchased a copy of Underhill’s Prayer Book and have been fascinated by prayers that were important to her. One of those was under the heading “Steadfastness,” which I want to pass on to you today.
Set free, O Lord, the souls of Your servants from all restlessness and anxiety: give us that peace and power which flow from You, and keep us in all perplexities and grief from any fears or faithlessness, that so upheld by Your strength, and stayed on the rock of Your faithfulness, through storm and stress, we may abide in You.
To those powerful words, I will say a hearty “Amen!”
Blessings and prayers for you on your “steadfast” journey of faith,
Note: The historical information on Evelyn Underhill and the “Steadfast” prayer were taken from Evelyn Underhill’s Prayer Book, edited by Robin Wrigley-Carr, Ph.D.