Fear has a body: it weakens the back, dims the eyes, tightens the chest. Bahá’u’lláh’s prayers for strength answer it in the same bodily terms, asking God to fortify the back and loins, to illumine the sight, to expand the breast, so that neither the onslaught of enemies nor the might of oppressors can unsettle the one who prays. Yet the strength sought is never mere toughness. It is steadfastness in remembrance, a tongue made articulate in praise, contentment with God’s good pleasure, and a power that lets life, mind, heart and spirit be given wholly to Him. Paul, pleading for relief, was answered instead with a grace that met him in his weakness. Admitting need turns out to be where might begins. Nor does the prayer stay with the self: it widens to the grief of God’s loved ones, asking that their anguish be lifted and mercy fall on them like rain. From here the way opens into the whole life of prayer, where asking for help and offering it become one movement of the heart.
O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I beseech Thee to make me so strong through Thy power that the onslaught of Thine enemies may not frighten me, nor the might of the oppressors among Thy creatures weaken me.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1306 ? [1888-1889], to Ramadan-Ali -- BH04111)
02
I beseech Thee, by Thy name through which Thou turnest restlessness into tranquillity, fear into confidence, weakness into strength, and abasement into glory, that Thou of Thy grace wilt aid me and Thy servants to exalt Thy name, to deliver Thy Message, and to proclaim Thy Cause, in such wise that we may remain unmoved by either the assaults of the transgressors or the wrath of the infidels, O Thou Who art my Well-Beloved!
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier, to Sister of Husayn -- BH06429)
03
Therefore strengthen my loins with Thy power that prevails over all created things, fortify my back with Thy might that dominates all contingent beings, illumine my sight with Thy brilliant lights that shine from the dawning-place of Thy words, expand my breast through Thy manifest signs from the daysprings of Thy revelation, strengthen my hosts through Thy banners raised upon the hills of the hearts of holy realities that speak forth in the earth and heavens.
O my God! O my God! Thou seest me in my lowliness and weakness, occupied with the greatest undertaking, determined to raise Thy word among the masses and to spread Thy teachings among Thy peoples. How can I succeed unless Thou assist me with the breath of the Holy Spirit, help me to triumph by the hosts of Thy glorious kingdom, and shower upon me Thy confirmations, which alone can change a gnat into an eagle, a drop of water into rivers and seas, and an atom into lights and suns? O my Lord! Assist me with Thy triumphant and effective might, so that my tongue may utter Thy praises and attributes among all people and my soul overflow with the wine of Thy love and knowledge.
Thou art the Omnipotent and the Doer of whatsoever Thou willest.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablet of the Divine Plan (Southern states II), 1917-Feb-03, to Baha'is of the Southern States -- AB00209)
05
I beseech Thee by the lights that shine forth from Thy Most Exalted Pen and by the waves of the ocean of Thy utterance before the faces of the enemies, to make me strong through Thy power and steadfast in Thy remembrance and praise amidst Thy servants.
Assist me, by Thy strengthening grace, O my Lord, to do what Thou didst will, and withhold not from me the things Thou dost possess. So enravish me with the wonders of Thine utterances that the noise and distraction of this world may be powerless to deter me from turning unto Thee, and may fail to shake my constancy in Thy Cause, or to distract my gaze from the horizon of Thy grace. Aid me, then, O my God, to do what pleaseth Thee, and to carry out Thy will. Write down for me, moreover, the good of this world and of the world which is to come, and ordain for me a seat of truth in Thy presence. Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, and to rule as Thou pleasest. No God is there but Thee, the Inaccessible, the All-Glorious, the Most Great.
Then ordain for me, O my Goal and my King, that which shall make me mighty through Thy might, articulate in Thy praise, and content with Thy good-pleasure.
O Lord! We are weak; strengthen us. O God! We are ignorant; make us knowing. O Lord! We are poor; make us wealthy. O God! We are dead; quicken us. O Lord! We are humiliation itself; glorify us in Thy Kingdom. If Thou dost assist us, O Lord, we shall become as scintillating stars. If Thou dost not assist us, we shall become lower than the earth. O Lord! Strengthen us. O God! Confer victory upon us. O God! Enable us to conquer self and overcome desire. O Lord! Deliver us from the bondage of the material world. O Lord! Quicken us through the breath of the Holy Spirit in order that we may arise to serve Thee, engage in worshiping Thee and exert ourselves in Thy Kingdom with the utmost sincerity. O Lord, Thou art powerful. O God, Thou art forgiving. O Lord, Thou art compassionate.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the Baha'is, spoken at Krug home on 1912-Dec-03 -- ABU0826)
09
Thou knowest that I have left every thought and occupation save Thy mention and praise and that I ask nothing save a strengthening power, which shall enable me to devote my life, my mind, my heart, my soul, and my spirit unto Thee, O God.
O God! O God! Thou seest my weakness, lowliness and humility before Thy creatures; nevertheless, I have trusted in Thee and have arisen in the promotion of Thy teachings among Thy strong servants, relying on Thy power and might. O Lord! I am a broken-winged bird and desire to soar in Thy limitless space. How is it possible for me to do this save through Thy providence and grace, Thy confirmation and assistance. O Lord! Have pity on my weakness, and strengthen me with Thy power. O Lord! Have pity on my impotence, and assist me with Thy might and majesty. O Lord! Should the breath of the Holy Spirit confirm the weakest of creatures, he would attain all to which he aspireth and would possess anything he desireth. Indeed, Thou hast assisted Thy servants in the past and, though they were the weakest of Thy creatures, the lowliest of Thy servants and the most insignificant of those who lived upon the earth, through Thy sanction and potency they took precedence over the most glorious of Thy people and the most noble of mankind. Whereas formerly they were as moths, they became as royal falcons, and whereas before they were as brooks, they became as seas, through Thy bestowal and Thy mercy. They became, through Thy most great favor, stars shining on the horizon of guidance, birds singing in the rose gardens of immortality, lions roaring in the forests of knowledge and wisdom, and whales swimming in the oceans of life. Verily, Thou art the Clement, the Powerful, the Mighty, and the Most Merciful of the merciful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablet of the Divine Plan (U.S. and Canada IV), 1917-Mar-08, to Baha'is of the United States and Canada -- AB00094)
11
O Lord! Unto Thee have I turned my face, detached from all save Thee and holding fast to the hem of the robe of Thy manifold blessings. Unloose my tongue therefore to proclaim that which will captivate the minds of men and will rejoice their souls and spirits. Strengthen me then in Thy Cause in such wise that I may not be hindered by the ascendancy of the oppressors among Thy creatures nor withheld by the onslaught of the disbelievers amidst those who dwell in Thy realm. Make me as a lamp shining throughout Thy lands that those in whose hearts the light of Thy knowledge gloweth and the yearning for Thy love lingereth may be guided by its radiance.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Hikmat (Tablet of Wisdom), 1292? [1875-1876], to Mulla Muhammad Qa'ini (Nabil-i-Akbar) -- BH00223)
12
O Lord! I am weak, strengthen me with Thy power and potency. My tongue falters, suffer me to utter Thy commemoration and praise. I am lowly, honor me through admitting me into Thy kingdom. I am remote, cause me to approach the threshold of Thy mercifulness. O Lord! Make me a brilliant lamp, a shining star and a blessed tree, adorned with fruit, its branches overshadowing all these regions. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful and Unconstrained.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablet of the Divine Plan (Central states II), 1917-Feb-08, to Baha'is of twelve Central States -- AB00184)
13
O Thou divine Providence, pitiful are we, grant us Thy succour; homeless wanderers, give us Thy shelter; scattered, do Thou unite us; astray, gather us to Thy fold; bereft, do Thou bestow upon us a share and portion; athirst, lead us to the well-spring of Life; frail, strengthen us that we may arise to help Thy Cause and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice in the pathway of guidance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Oct-10, to Baha'is of East and West et al -- AB00204)
14
O Thou incomparable God! We are Thy humble servants, and Thou art the All-Glorious. We are sinners, and Thou art the Ever-Forgiving. We are captives, poor and lowly, and Thou art our shelter and our aid. We are as tiny ants, and Thou art the Lord of majesty, enthroned in the highest heaven. Protect us, as a token of Thy grace, and withhold not from us Thy care and assistance. O Lord! Thy tests are indeed severe, and Thy trials can lay in ruin foundations wrought of steel. Preserve and strengthen us; cheer and gladden our hearts. Graciously assist us to serve, even as 'Abdu’l-Baha, Thy sacred Threshold.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Nayrizi, Mirza Baba et al -- AB05364)
15
O Lord! Dispel the grief of Thy loved ones and Thy chosen ones, and remove their anguish through Thy power and might, and illumine their hearts with the lights of the Day-Star of Thy oneness. Then send down upon them, from the heaven of Thy bounty, the rain of Thy mercy. Thou art indeed the Almighty, unto Whose power all created things have testified, and all things possible have witnessed to Thy strength and Thy conquest.