Life as we all know can be unpredictable and uncertain at the best of times. The last few months of the covid-19 pandemic have reminded us so much of this. We have had to adapt an adjust our lifestyles in ways we never thought possible. Life has been described as a shoe lace or piece of string that can get twisted in knots. Sometimes there are so many knots in our life we wonder where did it all go wrong.

From a spiritual point of view we know that knots are something we all have to live with. Even back in the time of Jesus, he was so aware of the struggles people had to face each day. Jesus was so in touch with the knots in people’s lives. He reached out to them in love; he was gentle and patient with them. He most certainly did not create more knots for them and he often helped a person untie their personal knot, whatever it might have been. For that person there was a great sense of freedom and joy. The knots had been tying them down but now there were new beginnings.

It is my firm belief that every person carries knots in their personal lives. The invitation of the Gospels is to be open to the blessings that God wants to bring into our lives. God is with us very much in the here and now and is with us through every knot we may be carrying. God doesn’t create the knot but God most certainly helps us untie the knot or knots. This has always been my sense of God. I believe in a God of love who is making a difference in our lives and who is helping us all untie those knots.

I will finish with the following prayer I came across called ‘The Knots Prayer’ and the author is unknown: Dear God, please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and life. Remove the ‘have not’, the ‘cannot’ and the ‘do not’ that I have in my mind. Erase the ‘will not’, ‘may not’ and ‘might not’ that may find a home in my heart. Release me from the ‘could not’, ‘would not’ and ‘should not’ that obstruct my life. And most of all dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life all of the ‘am not’s that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough. Help me to be the beautiful person you have created.


Thought For The Week is updated each Monday